The Growing Edge of Spirituality: Panel Discussion and Open Forum

Transcription

1 The Growing Edge of Spirituality: Panel Discussion and Open Forum Presented at the LCA Conference September 28, 2015 Presenters Paul Buddy Ceasar, Ed.D., LPC-S, LMFT Judith G. Miranti, Ed.D., LPC-S, LMFT, Professor, Xavier University of Louisiana Iman En-Nabut, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC Moderator: Matthew Lyons, Ph.D., Professor, University of New Orleans

2 Topics Growth of spirituality as a topic of interest, Differentiating spirituality from religion, The role of spirituality in wellness, and Incorporating spirituality into counseling,

3 The Case for Including Religion and Spirituality in Counseling Many potential clients have religious as well as secular concerns. Spirituality is the sustaining core that keeps many clients going when all else seems to fail. Required by Code of Ethics. Clients may reject necessary counseling services when a counselor fails to understand and respect their belief system.

4 Evolution of Spirituality in Counseling

5 Young, J.S., Wiggins-Frame, M., & Cashwell, C. (2007). Spirituality and Counselor Competency: A National Survey of America Counseling Association Members. Journal of Counseling and Development, Vol.85, p American Counseling Association: Arlington, Va. Reprinted permission of the authors

6 Definitions of Religion and Spirituality (sometimes used interchangeably) Religion: The organized set of beliefs that encode a person or group s attitudes toward, and understanding of, the essence or nature of reality. Usually has doctrine. Has an external dimension. Exclusive. Spirituality: A mindfulness about the existential qualities of life, especially the relationship between self, other, and the world. Doctrine less. Internal. Inclusive.

7 Assessing for Religion and Spirituality Ask: Do you have a religious preference? Do you currently attend religious services? What are your reasons for attending services? and How important are your religious beliefs to you? Ask: How clients spirituality could contribute to their understanding of the problem or solutions. Take a thorough spiritual history. Ask: In what ways do you want to include spirituality in our counseling sessions? Do a formal assessment.

8 Competencies for Addressing Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling Preamble The Competencies for Addressing Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling are guidelines that complement, not supersede, the values and standards espoused in the ACA Code of Ethics. Consistent with the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), the purpose of the ASERVIC Competencies is to recognize diversity and embrace a cross-cultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts. These Competencies are intended to be used in conjunction with counseling approaches that are evidence-based and that align with best practices in counseling.

9 Competencies Culture and Worldview 1. The professional counselor can describe the similarities and differences between spirituality and religion, including the basic beliefs of various spiritual systems, major world religions, agnosticism, and atheism. 2.The professional counselor recognizes that the client s beliefs (or absence of beliefs) about spirituality and/or religion are central to his or her worldview and can influence psychosocial functioning. Counselor Self-Awareness 3. The professional counselor actively explores his or her own attitudes, beliefs, and values about spirituality and/or religion. 4. The professional counselor continuously evaluates the influence of his or her own spiritual and/or religious beliefs and values on the client and the counseling process. 5. The professional counselor can identify the limits of his or her understanding of the client s spiritual and/or religious perspective and is acquainted with religious and spiritual resources, including leaders, who can be avenues for consultation and to whom the counselor can refer.

10 Human and Spiritual Development 6. The professional counselor can describe and apply various models of spiritual and/or religious development and their relationship to human development. Communication 7. The professional counselor responds to client communications about spirituality and/or religion with acceptance and sensitivity. 8. The professional counselor uses spiritual and/or religious concepts that are consistent with the client s spiritual and/or religious perspectives and that are acceptable to the client. 9. The professional counselor can recognize spiritual and/or religious themes in client communication and is able to address these with the client when they are therapeutically relevant. 10. During the intake and assessment processes, the professional counselor strives to understand a client s spiritual and/or religious perspective by gathering information from the client and/or other sources.

11 Spiritual and Moral Development a discussion paper National Curriculum Council York: 1993 There are many aspects of spiritual development. Beliefs - The development of personal beliefs, including religious beliefs; an appreciation that people have individual and shared beliefs on which they base their lives; a developing understanding of how beliefs contribute to personal identity. A sense of awe, wonder and mystery - Being inspired by the natural world, mystery, or human achievement.

12 Experiencing feelings of transcendence - Feelings which may give rise to belief in the existence of a divine being, or the belief that one's inner resources provide the ability to rise above everyday experiences. Search for meaning and purpose - Asking 'why me?' at times of hardship or suffering; reflecting on the origins and purpose of life; responding to challenging experiences of life such as beauty, suffering and death.

13 Self-knowledge - An awareness of oneself in terms of thoughts, feelings, emotions, responsibilities and experiences; a growing understanding and acceptance of individual identity; the development of self-respect. Relationships - Recognizing and valuing the worth of each individual; developing a sense of community; the ability to build up relationships with others.

14 Creativity - Expressing innermost thoughts and feelings through, for example, art, music, literature and crafts; exercising the imagination, inspiration, intuition and insight. Feelings and emotions - The sense of being moved by beauty or kindness; hurt by injustice or aggression; a growing awareness of when it is important to control emotions and feelings, and how to learn to use such feelings as a source of growth.

15 Assessment 10. During the intake and assessment processes, the professional counselor strives to understand a client s spiritual and/or religious perspective by gathering information from the client and/or other sources. Diagnosis and Treatment 11. When making a diagnosis, the professional counselor recognizes that the client s spiritual and/or religious perspectives can a) enhance well-being; b) contribute to client problems; and/or c) exacerbate symptoms. 12. The professional counselor sets goals with the client that are consistent with the client s spiritual and/or religious perspectives. 13. The professional counselor is able to a) modify therapeutic techniques to include a client s spiritual and/or religious perspectives, and b) utilize spiritual and/or religious practices as techniques when appropriate and acceptable to a client s viewpoint. 14. The professional counselor can therapeutically apply theory and current research supporting the inclusion of a client s spiritual and/or religious perspectives and practices.

16 Assessment One way counselors can assess their clients spirituality is to utilize intake questionnaires or counseling interviews (Richards, Bartz, & O Grady, 2009). Some questions one might consider asking at intake include: 1. Would the client like to discuss spiritual matters in counseling when relevant? 2. Does the client believe in God or a higher power? 3. What is God like to the client? 4. Is spirituality important to the client? 5. Does the client have a religious affiliation? If so, how important is it? 6. Does the client attend a place of gathering, such as a mosque, church, or synagogue? 7. How closely does the client, and the client s family, follow the teachings or his or her religion? 8. How does the client personally experience God s guidance? 9. Does the client have any concerns related to his or her spirituality or religious community? (Richards et al., 2009)

17 Vignettes The Following Vignettes are taken from: McAuliffe, G. & Associates. (2008). Culturally alert counseling: A comprehensive introduction. (with accompanying DVD: Key Practices in Culturally Alert Counseling: A Demonstration of Skills). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

18 Vignettes What conflict around religion or spirituality is important to consider in these cases? With which competency would you identify? Brittany is a single 34-year-old Evangelical Christian. She attends a small Evangelical Baptist church in her rural town. Recently she has been struggling with not being married because being married and raising a family are the desires of her heart. She has been wondering why God has waited so long to bring a partner into her life, why He has not answered her prayers. Although she lives in a small town and attends a small church, there are a number of available men her age both in her town and in nearby towns; most of these men are Christian. However, it seems that those in whom she is interested are not interested in her, and those interested in her, she is not interested in. She has been questioning whether she is faithful enough for God to answer her prayers. She is also questioning whether there is something wrong with her that keeps her from forming successful Relationships with men. She presents to you for counseling because she has been Feeling depressed about her life situation. Competency (ies)

19 Geoff is a 19-year-old Orthodox Jewish American undergraduate student majoring in pre-med at a large metropolitan university. He grew up in a relatively small city in another part of the state. He recently began attending a relationship support group at the campus counseling center because he is feeling depressed and isolated from friends and family. During the third session, Geoff shares with the group that he has found himself developing a phone relationship with the campus late night male disc jockey. The phone calls have led to Geoff s masturbating to sexual fantasies about the disc jockey. Geoff s understanding of the Torah is that both homosexuality and masturbation are sins, so he feels that he can t go to the rabbi with his struggle. But he wonders if masturbation is really wrong. He feels torn between his and his family and temple s orthodox commitments and his attraction to this man. The struggle creates a sense of isolation as he wonders with whom he can talk his faith community doesn t seem to offer support or answers, while the secular perspectives challenge the faith and community that have supported him since birth. Competency (ies)

20 Joseph is a 65-year-old man who has faithfully practiced Christian Science for 30 years. He now finds himself ill. His doctors say that he is dying from cancer. Because Christian Science is a healing faith that involves praying for people when they are ill and eschewing most medical services, and because he has not been healed despite many years of his own and healers prayers, he and his family find themselves in a quandary. As his parents are not believers in Christian Science, his wife is somewhat less committed to Christian Science, and his children left the Faith years ago, he is experiencing extreme pressure to do what most people would do, that is, to see a doctor and undergo medical treatment. He is now doubting his faith because it seems to be deserting him at a key point in his life. He thinks that, after all, if God is not healing him now, perhaps there is no heaven, and God will not greet him when he dies. He comes into family counseling with his wife and three adult children. Competency (ies)

21 Eastern Religion(s) scenario

22 Questions and Answers