Transcript Document
Psychology and the
Sacred: Ensuring
Ethical Approaches
to Spiritual and
Religious Issues
Philip R. Budd, Psy.D.
Southern Nazarene University
Overview
What are religious and spiritual issues?
Why have they been ignored in
psychology and counseling?
Are they important in counseling?
How do we address these issues in ethical
ways?
Spirituality
Derived from the Latin word, “spiritus”,
meaning breath, wind, life.
Spirit is concerned with “otherness” and in
particular the “holy”
Thus it is involved with a person’ search for
meaning, purpose and value in life.
Spirituality may or may not include a
supreme being.
Definitions of Spirituality
Cervantes and Ramirez defined spirituality as
the search for harmony and wholeness in the
universe.
Tillich referred to it as that which is related
to one’s ultimate concern and the meaninggiving dimension of culture.
Holifield sees spirituality as less a method
and more of an attitude, a posture of one’s
very being that allows seeing not things but
everything differently.
ACA Association for Spiritual, Ethical,
and Religious Values in Counseling
The animating force in life, represented by
such images as breath, wind, vigor, and
courage. Spirituality is the infusion and
drawing out of spirit in one’s life. Spirituality
includes one’s capacity for creativity,
growth, and the development of a values
system. Spirituality encompasses the
religious, spiritual, and transpersonal.
Religion
Religion may share the characteristics of
spirituality, but there are differences.
A religion refers to a set of beliefs and
practices of an organized religious
institution.
Religion is one form of spirituality, but one
may be spiritual without being religious.
Relationship between spirituality
and religion
Pelikan talks of the difference between
spirituality and structure to talk about
the reformation.
Psychology and Religion
Middle ages: “Soul Care”
Modernity and the emergence of the
scientific method created a scism.
Postmodernity promotes the notion that all
reality is socially constructed. Thus, science
is also open to being viewed subjectively.
Attempts to see psychology as a
hermeneutical process rather than just
empirical.
Freud and Religion
Believed that religion was rooted in early childgood
experiences, especially the experience of the father
as omnipotent and omniscient as well as caring and
protective.
In crises, people seek a benevolent father-god.
Odeipal complex and God.
Religion as illusion.
Religious rituals were seen as neurotic obsessions.
By aligning w/ science, Freud believed abandoning
religion was necessary for maturity.
Ellis and Religion
Religious beliefs are schemas acquired
in childhood and may be the root of
irrational thoughts.
Believed that atheism was the only way
to optimal human functioning
Skinner and Religion
Religion is just another reinforcement.
Skinner saw religion as using excessive
negative reinforcement or punishment
Humanist-Existential Views on
Religion
Yalom,suggested that belief in a personal God
and in immortality were merely defenses
against the anxiety surrounding death.
Following religious codes and their behavioral
prescriptions were a way of avoiding personal
choice and responsibility.
Kierkegaard, Tillich, Bonhoeffer saw meaning
making as engagement with God and all of
life.
Professional Issues and Religion
Religion and spirituality are the
domains of Clergy
Need to only address issues one is
competent to address
Counselors may have unresolved issues
around religious and spiritual topics
Historical mandate to provide “valuefree” therapy.
Why are religious and spiritual issues
important to address in Counseling?
Gallup reports that 94% of adult Americans
believe in God or a higher power. 68% of
adult Americans are members of church, or
place of worship and 58% rate religion as
being very important in their lives
With immigration, more focus on religious
issues may be common.
Overlapping values and goals of religion,
Spirituality and psychotherapy.
Empirical evidence links spirituality and
mental health
Client’s View of the World
Thus, psychotherapists must find ways
of entering the client’s view of the
world
Counselors must adopt a multicultural
perspective related to religion. And
spirituality.
Summit on Spirituality
Explain relationship between religion and
spirituality
Describe religions and spiritual beliefs in
cultural context
Engage in self-exploration of therapist’s
beliefs, sensitivities
Describe one’s religious/spiritual belief
system and explain development of these
issues across the life span
Sensitivity to and acceptance of various
religious and spiritual expression
Summit on Spirituality
(Continued)
Identify the limits of one’s understanding of a
client’s spiritual expression and demonstrate
appropriate referral skills and general
possible referral sources
Assess the relevance of the spiritual domains
in the client’s therapeutic issues
Be sensitive to and respectful of the spiritual
themes in the counseling process a
Use a client’s spiritual beliefs in the pursuit
of the client’s therapeutic goals
Person of the Therapist Issues
Evaluate own belief systems
Personal therapy for impeding values
Welfare of the client rather than
proselytizing
Refrain from trying to convince client
of dangers of religious issues
Therapists being aware of their own
spiritual journey
Ethical Concerns RE: Spirituality
Respect for diversity
Informed Consent
Competence and training
APA Principle B
"Psychologists strive to be aware of
their own belief systems, values, needs,
and limitations and the effect of these
on their work" (APA Ethics code, 1992).
APA Principle D
Where differences of age, gender, race, ethnicity,
national origin, religion, sexual orientation,
disability, language, or socioeconomic status
significantly affect psychologists' work concerning
particular individuals or groups, psychologists obtain
the training, experience, consultation, or supervision
necessary to ensure the competence of their
services, or they make appropriate referrals. (APA
Ethics Code, 1992)
Multiple Relationships and
Boundaries
Avoid dual roles professional/religious
Consult w/ supervisor/colleague about
potential dual roles
Define limits and extent of relationship
w/ client
Documenting boundary issues well
Workplace Boundaries
Adhere to workplace issues re:
separation of church/state
Working within client’s value system
Refraining from using spiritual
interventions to impose viewpoint
Written permission from parents of
minors for any interventions
Additional Reading
Carpenter, D. (2003). Ethical considerations in working with
religious clients. (http://www.g-gej.org/12/religious_clients.html)
Gold, J. (2010). Counseling and spirituality: Integrating
spiritual and clinical orientations. Columbus, OH:Merrill
Van Hoose, W.H. & Kottler, J. (1985) Ethical and legal issues in
counseling and psychotherapy. New York:Jossey-Bass