Assessing religion & spirituality in counseling: some reflection & recommendations. The concept of religion and spirituality normally overlap and are in most cases used interchangeably. Spirituality mainly involves connecting with others and it contains the following three main components: connection to something or someone beyond oneself, the desire to positively contribute to other’s good and also the feeling of compassion to other people. Religion is defined as an organized system of belief which includes institutionalized and shared moral values, involvement of people in the religious community and also the beliefs about God (Blando, 2006). According to this definition, spirituality can be considered an individual level experience
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These institutions serve as resources offering services during the time of stress through the provision of a sense of identity. This can be through prayer, faith in God, solitary activities, guidance from the clergy and much more. According to Koch (2008), he found that religiosity is a health resource for the citizens whose income is below average. The psychiatric clients reported that religion and spirituality was their source of strength and comfort as it provides the resources to help cope with stress and also increase the social support. The people who are spiritually active are able to heal at a faster rate and also adopt a healthy lifestyle (Koch, 2008). Codes of ethics that are instructed in spiritual counseling The code of ethics guiding spirituality has been set in place by a number of the professional counseling organizations so as to ensure that every person who needs counseling is treated equally. The clients professionals pledge to commit to increase the clients understanding of the meaning of life, beneficial and the vital understanding of the benefits of the counseling profession (D’Andrea & Sprenger, 2007). The implementation of religion and spirituality helps clients’ growth and welfare and also help solve the issues that the clients bring to them (Steen, Engels & Thweatt, …show more content…
Several instruments have been set up to aid in the study of the religious variables. Most of these instruments have got psychometric properties that are well established (Hill, Hood, 1999; Miller & Thoresen, 2003).
Thus assessing the client’s spirituality and religious beliefs can play a huge role in therapy. According to the discussion above, it is very beneficial in helping in the therapy session and thus should be fully incorporated by the professionals.
References
Blando, J. (2006). Spirituality, Religion, and counseling. Counseling and Human Development, 39(2), 1.
D’Andrea, L., & Sprenger, J. (2007). Atheism and non-spirituality as diversity issues in counseling. Counseling and Values, 51(2), 149.
Koch, J. (2008). Is religion a health resource for the poor?. Social Science Journal, 45(3), 497- 503.
Morrison, J., Clutter, S., Pritchett, E., & Demmitt, A. (2009). Perceptions of clients and counseling professionals regarding spirituality in counseling. Counseling and values, 53(3), 183.
Steen, R., Engels, D., & Thweatt III, W. (2006). Ethical aspects of spirituality in counseling. Counseling & Values, 50(2),
These institutions serve as resources offering services during the time of stress through the provision of a sense of identity. This can be through prayer, faith in God, solitary activities, guidance from the clergy and much more. According to Koch (2008), he found that religiosity is a health resource for the citizens whose income is below average. The psychiatric clients reported that religion and spirituality was their source of strength and comfort as it provides the resources to help cope with stress and also increase the social support. The people who are spiritually active are able to heal at a faster rate and also adopt a healthy lifestyle (Koch, 2008). Codes of ethics that are instructed in spiritual counseling The code of ethics guiding spirituality has been set in place by a number of the professional counseling organizations so as to ensure that every person who needs counseling is treated equally. The clients professionals pledge to commit to increase the clients understanding of the meaning of life, beneficial and the vital understanding of the benefits of the counseling profession (D’Andrea & Sprenger, 2007). The implementation of religion and spirituality helps clients’ growth and welfare and also help solve the issues that the clients bring to them (Steen, Engels & Thweatt, …show more content…
Several instruments have been set up to aid in the study of the religious variables. Most of these instruments have got psychometric properties that are well established (Hill, Hood, 1999; Miller & Thoresen, 2003).
Thus assessing the client’s spirituality and religious beliefs can play a huge role in therapy. According to the discussion above, it is very beneficial in helping in the therapy session and thus should be fully incorporated by the professionals.
References
Blando, J. (2006). Spirituality, Religion, and counseling. Counseling and Human Development, 39(2), 1.
D’Andrea, L., & Sprenger, J. (2007). Atheism and non-spirituality as diversity issues in counseling. Counseling and Values, 51(2), 149.
Koch, J. (2008). Is religion a health resource for the poor?. Social Science Journal, 45(3), 497- 503.
Morrison, J., Clutter, S., Pritchett, E., & Demmitt, A. (2009). Perceptions of clients and counseling professionals regarding spirituality in counseling. Counseling and values, 53(3), 183.
Steen, R., Engels, D., & Thweatt III, W. (2006). Ethical aspects of spirituality in counseling. Counseling & Values, 50(2),