An Elephant in the Room: Therapist Experience of Incorporating Spirituality and Religion in Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Study

Clinical practice nowadays recognizes the importance of religion and spirituality in people’s identity, worldview, meaning-making, and, consequently, their psychological well-being. A significant component of personal identity, value system and the worldview may stem from one’s religion and spirituality. Even though psychological problems primarily affect client’s mind and body psychological symptoms and treatment goals of more religious or religiously committed clients intertwine with their religion and spirituality. Clients sometimes seek professional help due to the difficulties related to their inability to live in compliance with a certain value system. At times, client’s religious or spiritual problems and conflicts may manifest as psychopathological symptoms and vice versa. In order to alleviate religious or spiritual clients' distress and/or efficiently treat their presenting symptoms and complaints it is vital that the treatment approach used to help this category is informed by the set of values and concepts which fits within their theological worldview. Incorporating religious and spiritual issues into therapy whilst working with religious and spiritual clients hence seems to be a necessity. Aim: this study aims to explore therapist experiences of incorporating spirituality and religion in psychotherapy. Method and sampling: Qualitative study of content analysis of semi structured interviews. Using purposeful sampling method, a total of 9 (N=9) mental health professionals were interviewed in this study. Results: This study shows perceived therapeutic benefits of addressing clients’ spiritual and religious issues applied by mental health professionals.

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