Let’s talk about spirituality!
Spirituality in the Therapy Room
What is spirituality?
Spirituality is defined by Merriam-Webster as “sensitivity or attachment to religious values” and “the quality or state of being spiritual.” Dr. Maya Spencer described spirituality as “…the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than [oneself]…Spirituality means knowing that our lives have significance in a context beyond a mundane everyday existence…” (2012). This sense of connectedness and significance may be associated with a religion, a practice, a lifestyle, or a belief regarding the path that humanity should take in order to live a happy, healthy life.
Why is spirituality important? And what is the place of spirituality in the therapy room?
Everyone who comes into the therapy room has standards, a moral compass that guides their individual and family lives. Those compasses differ but they are every person’s reality. While taking into account how therapists experience religion or spirituality themselves, we also need to take into consideration the fact that clients bring so many different perspectives to the table, many of which spring from family life, spiritual background, and religious choice or preference. Each of those perspectives must be respected, understood, and utilized to bring about change.
James L. Griffith, quoted by another author in an article in 2019 said,
A therapist who tries to work with a religious [couple] without locating God in [their marital] system may find himself or herself in the position of the astronomers in the mid-1800s who were puzzled that their equations could not predict the movement [of the planets] (1986, 2019).
Beliefs and the foundations for those beliefs are incredibly important! They form the basis of our words and actions, as well as our very thoughts. To discount the importance of spirituality for an individual, couple, or family is to lose a depth and breadth of understanding of the self, family, culture, peace, hurt, and healing. This is where an understanding of a person’s and family’s experience with spirituality and religion comes into play most heavily.
Our personal spirituality and journey with spirituality is a story that only we know fully. As clients choose to be open about experiences with spirituality and religion, therapists gain understanding and perspective and may more fully be able to see the world from their viewpoint. This openness can open doors to resources and allow communication barriers, both internally and externally, to break down. These conversations may strengthen hope and increase opportunities for change in therapy.
It may seem a simple thing, spirituality. It is easy to make a statement about one’s spirituality or the lack thereof. But for someone who claims spirituality and/or religion as a part of their life, a full understanding of that individual cannot be found without a better understanding of how that plays a role in their life.
Let’s talk about spirituality!
References
Butler, M.H., & Herring, H. R. (2019, March 25). When Religious Couples Pray. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://ifstudies.org/blog/when-religious-couples-pray
Griffith, J. L. (1986). Employing the God-Family Relationship in Therapy with Religious Families. Family Process, 25(4), 609-618. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1986.00609.x
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Spirituality. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirituality
Spencer, M. (2012). What is spirituality? A personal exploration. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/what-is-spirituality-maya-spencer-x.pdf?sfvrsn=f28df052_2.