The Challenges of Integrating Religion and Spirituality into Psychotherapy

Integrity, Competence, and Cultural Pluralism in Clinical Practice
1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-1-032-71457-8
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 274 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 554 g

Reihe: Advances in Mental Health Research

This book examines personal and professional understandings of religion in psychotherapy and advocates for integrity, competency, and cultural pluralism in clinical practice.

A major feature of this book is that it confirms the massive proliferation of religion-oriented approaches to counseling and therapy in recent years. It attributes this rise to opportunism and exaggerated individualism among therapists and to the frequent failures of professional associations, clinical preparation programs, and other influences. In response to these influences, it identifies the need for guiding principles for integrating religion into therapy, discusses the religious issues that clients bring to therapy, and advocates for major changes in clinical practice, with emphasis on integrity and competence. Building on a large volume of research and using evidence-based conclusions, it clarifies how these two major features of contemporary life can be integrated with integrity and competence. The author maintains that religion should be a feature of the practice of counseling and therapy, so long as it addresses the clinically relevant needs of clients. However, it also explores how the religion of counselors and therapists often expresses the needs of counselors and therapists, instead of addressing the needs of their clients.

In the context of these questions and discussion of contentious challenges, this book provides guidelines for relating religion with clinical practice and recommends needed actions by clinical preparation programs, professional associations, individual therapists, state legislatures, licensing boards, social service agencies, and corporations. All of this stands on the conspicuous need for professional accountability in the delivery of mental health care.

Zielgruppe

Academic and Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Martin, Francis A.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychotherapie / Klinische Psychologie Beratungspsychologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychologie / Allgemeines & Theorie Psychologische Theorie, Psychoanalyse
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionssoziologie und -psychologie, Spiritualität, Mystik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction  1. Religious Opportunism in Counseling and Psychotherapy  2. Individualism as Therapy  3. Mercenary Organizations  4. Equivocating Allies  5. Career Counseling for Therapy  6. How To Relate Religion with Therapy: Guiding Principles  7. Clients’ Religion in Therapy  8. How To Improve Graduate Preparation for Clinical Practice  9. Advocacy among Therapists and Their Constituencies  10. Integrity: Aspirations and Encouragement

Über Autor(innen)

Francis A. Martin is Adjunct Instructor at Lipscomb University, USA, and Executive Director with The Center for Clinical Training.