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 meaning- giving 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 “value- free” 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. ( 2/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