Spiritual or Religious Concerns in Therapy
“Do people talk about their spirituality or religion in therapy?” The short answer -Yes! But let’s first break down what these terms really mean. While spirituality and religion are closely related terms, they are not exactly the same. Spirituality is the search to find a greater meaning to life. Religion, on the other hand, is an organized system of beliefs within a spiritual community. Often clients who do not associate with any organized religion still come to therapy very concerned with spiritual or moral matters.
Think of it like this: the first role similar to a psychotherapist was held by religious and spiritual leaders, who to this day are on the front lines of hearing their community members’ concerns. Although mental health care is now secularized and medicalized, there will always be this long-standing connection between spiritual and psychological care. Even the idea of creating a therapeutic and healing space, a sanctuary, can be traced back to the Benedictine idea of hospitality. The confidential support and healing relationship built by a psychotherapist can create a sanctuary for their clients right within their office.
Your concerns around these topics do have a place within the mental health world! In fact, the next time you may be tempted to think otherwise, remember: the Greek root of the term psyche actually has its origins in the word soul. Even further, the word psychotherapy can be translated as the healing of the soul. There is a sanctuary that psychotherapists can create for clients experiencing distressing thoughts regarding these topics or clients wanting to incorporate their religious or spiritual values into session. No matter the specifics of what you believe, or how it is affecting you, many psychotherapists are trained to help. There is hope and healing, so ask a therapist near you if they are trained in this area.
Sources
Walsh, F. (2010). Spiritual resources in family therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.
Wenker, M. Z. (2004). Radical Hospitality, Benedict’s Way of Love (Book). Cistercian Studies Quarterly, 39(4), 475–477.
West, W. (2000). Psychotherapy & Spirituality: Crossing the Line Between Therapy and Religion. SAGE Publications Ltd.
