Integrating Religion And Spirituality Into Counseling

t training practices currently espouse patientreason that belief stand and that others, regardless
treatment or care focus that is holistic aiming atof being "believers," may be ill suited to involve the
treating the patient completely regardless of theclients to follow their religious and spiritual matters.
profession. Regardless of this, spiritual religiousBefore engaging in these specialization professional
concerns classically receive short shrift inpsychotherapy are cautioned to be spirituality
psychotherapeutic education and are frequentlynourished and well informed. Professional
viewed as latent clinical quicksand, exposed to a lotpsychotherapy’ self —assessment and
of danger and explored no further than ankle deep.spiritual are addressed in various chapters in volume
The 2 set of volumes, is watchful of this historicalone. The verity that these volumes advocate
favoritism and cover it directly, to consist of thechanging psychiatric therapy into "spiritual direction" or
possible pratfalls of psychotherapists inflowing thispastoral counseling is not stated clearly.
ground in the traditional fifty minute hour.In addition the editors in these volumes
The scope of these volumes is extremely helpful.demonstrated that Counseling assists clients to gain
The book not only cover the theoretical issues, butinsight into the traditions, their core belief and the
every chapter comprise a clinical vignette or 2moral values are echoed in their behaviors.
pertinent to the topic at hand, including activitySometimes clients found the importance of
sheets, assessment tools, bibliographies, homeworkreexamining the moral values. Counselors should
assignments and clinical caveats. It is an indication thatremain nonjudgmental and open, acknowledging that
these volumes are the love labor of the editor meantthere are numerous paths ways toward satisfying
for providing cheering section and a safety net forthe spiritual and religious needs. Pathway prescription
clinician who wants to involve their psychotherapyis not the counselors ’responsibility. Resolving
clients in a way that does not draw back fromof clients problems can be achieved by Counselors
religious and spiritual concerns. The volumes in additionmaking use of the religious and spiritual moral beliefs
illustrates the effectiveness of counseling, forof their clients. To help them explore and resolve
counseling to be very effective, counselors musttheir problems. Counselors need to be very
address the body, spirit and mind need. Religious andcompetent in working with spiritual and religious
spiritual counseling needs have not been addressedconcerns to effectively address spiritual and religious
by counseling.concerns in treatment and assessment. Training
The contributors and editors in these volumes clearlyprograms in therapeutic process must integrate
illustrated that not all professional psychotherapist arediscussions on working together with spiritual and
individually called to this type of approach for thereligious values .