Over the past few decade research on religion and spirituality has burgeoned. There is now abundant support for the effectiveness of religion/spirituality to promote positive health outcomes (Koenig, 2012). For example, religion/spirituality is positively associated greater well-being, improved coping with stress, and better mental health.
Despite such overwhelming evidence, religion/spirituality is still often regarded as inappropriate in healthcare settings. Many counselors avoid the subject in therapy, partly out of lack of knowledge about how to do integrate it into sessions and/or ignorance about its effectiveness in achieving the goals of therapy (Crook-Lyon et al., 2012). At the same time researchers have found the majority of clients want spirituality to be part of the therapeutic conversation (Vieten et al., 2013).
This page is devoted to exploring this connection, promoting the appropriate use of spirituality in mental healthcare and providing useful tools to accomplish that goal.
What’s All the Fuss?
A positive sense of meaning in life is associated with deeply held religious beliefs.
Irwin Yalom
While a majority of Americans consider themselves religious or spiritual, psychotherapy, for the most part, has become a secular and amoral healing practice.
Bruce Wampold
The original meaning of medicine is not science but service. But science can never serve unless it is translated by people into a work of the heart
Dr. Rachel Remen
Martus 