Running Head: MANAGING RELIGIOUS CONFLICT Managing Religious Conflict within Psychotherapy Ryan Hagen UMASS Lowell Abstract This paper discusses the relationship of religion and psychology within the setting of interpersonal dynamic psychotherapy. It raises the question of whether and to what extent religion should be included in a therapeutic setting. Varying perspectives on this issue are reviewed, followed by an examination of the consequences of addressing religion within therapy. Several examples are offered of potential pit falls a therapist may encounter in this situation as well as suggestions for minimizing the likelihood of these occurrences. Two models are included which provide frameworks for assessing the degree …show more content…
In 1989, Richards, in a study of 100 Mormon patients, found that they were more trusting of therapists who disclosed a belief in god. A lot of this depends on the patient. Quackenbos (et al 1986) outlined four viewpoints or degrees of involvement a person may have with their religion, and how it is used to interpret mental health. The four viewpoints are orthodox, moderate, neutralist and atheistic. These lay on a continuum, where those with orthodox viewpoints believe mental problems are caused by sin, and on the other end, atheistic sees mental problems as purely psychological. Another framework was proposed by Batson and Ventis (1982). They argued that a therapist’s need to understand the different ways of being religious in order to understand the impact that religion may or may not have on their patient. They created their framework around 3 dimensions, each of which has it’s own continuum. The 3 dimensions are quest, ends and means. The ‘quest’ continuum measures the degree of importance the individual places on existential questions, but does not necessarily feel an urgency to have answered. An example of this would be an agnostic, or a philosopher who enjoys the process of examining these kinds of questions. A person on the high end of this continuum would tend to have doubts about religion, and be tentative about religious viewpoints. The ‘means’ continuum
In The Sacred Quest, University of Notre Dame professor Lawrence Cunningham attempts the search for a coherent definition of religion. While he doesn’t strive for a one-sentence interpretation of what indicates a real, organized religion, he arrives on several elements and functions to give meaning to his definition. To Cunningham, there are five elements that make up a religion: belief, feeling, action, individual and community aspects, and values. Cunningham argues that these five elements exists in order to explain what could not otherwise be explained, enable people to sustain hope in the face of difficult experiences, and provide ways of thinking that provide goals and respond to “great problems” in life (158). All of these aspects work
In our class textbook Practical Psychology for Pastors, I also learned about Rational-Emotive Therapy. “In the 1970s another major approach to counseling emerged. The first popular form, introduced by Albert Ellis, was known as rational-emotive therapy (RET).” (Miller, 84) Albert Ellis was known for thinking that wasn’t practical in this approach. “Ellis’s method emphasized ‘irrational beliefs’ as the source of human suffering, seeking to identify and change such beliefs.” (Miller, 84) Albert Ellis’s beliefs were those that were antireligious, but still able to widely effective all people. “Research shows, in fact, that clients’ religious imagery can be integrated into cognitive therapy with beneficial results.” (Miller, 215) Even though this therapy is controversial with some clergy members, because of the antireligious connection to the origins of this therapy, this method is effective for both Christian Counselors and non-religious counselors. The success of this therapy is also widely effective in decreasing depression amongst those who participated in it. Research has also proven that Rational Emotive Therapy can be done with those who are religious without interference in their beliefs. (W. Brad Johnson, 131)
Previous research shows that religion impact on mental health is impressive because, in today’s society having a strong religious bond creates a better household. Without this type of bond, the caregivers would be under a lot of stress and cause them to be socially isolated. However, in society today, faith based interventions are the leading source in coping for families that suffer from mental illnesses. Families turn to religion when it comes to because they find it to be a spiritual treatment modality and it’s a free method of alternative therapy. In a study by McCaffrey, they found that people with chronic disorders prayed more than those without. In addition, African Americans indicated that by praying it made the problem appear
Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity allowed me to comprehend fully the past occurrences of psychology and theology. The book displayed the faith and confidence that both psychology and Christianity must be combined in order for it to have a better understanding and allowing the client a better chance of healing. In order to do this there must be a complete understanding of each component in and of itself. Entwistle’s (2010) book presented all the facts from history as it has shaped society today (pp. 18-34). As he discussed these historic events, it shows just how the wisdom that is held today is a reflection or reaction of what happened then. Christianity has always had a huge impact on world history
In this paper, Religious Analysis, I will discuss my, observation, experience, and emotions attending a religious service that is different from what I was raised. The purpose of this assignment is for me to gain an understanding of another religion practice, understand the similarities and difference between religions, and find common ground with other cultures. By doing the Religion Analysis assignment, it will allow me to become culturally competent now and throughout my journey in the field of social work. It will help me comprehend what other people believe in and why they might believe in it. This will allow me to relate to and understand people more or better. As a future social worker, it is essential to know the diversity of religion
However, the role of religion and spirituality to various fields (psychopathology, explanatory models, treatment seeking, treatment adherence, outcome, etc.) has not received much attention. Strong amounts of religious faith have been shown to have an inferior long-term outcome with schizophrenia (Doering et al., 1998). Throoughout this study, a psychiatrist carries out the measurement of religious faith intensity, and it is impossible to retrospectively determine the extent to which the intense religious faith included the presence of religious delusions. Clearly, religious delusions, which could have been present in many of their patients, might have had an impact upon the outcome from treatment. When it comes to it that religious delusions rather than religiosity, we are responsible for the results of the outcome studies, it was the hypothesized that religiously deluded patients would incline less profit from their treatment than other patients with schizophrenia. Patients with religious delusions on admission to hospital were often prescribed more medication by their doctors (Siddle et al., 2002a). There were drastic differences in those who had religious delusions than those who had other types of
Duncan from the University of Minnesota, “it is well documented that hope, belief, and faith positively influence health outcomes” (2016) because of her strength she expressed in her God this spiritual intervention may be the most profound healing approach. Prayer requires a commitment from the individual but does not incur any expenses. Also, “Murphy's 2009 study examining religious beliefs in clinically depressed patients found that "belief in a concerned God can improve response to medical treatment" (2016, Duncan). Consequently, this spirit approach may touch all areas of concern by lifting her spirits and restoring her
1. Division 36 is part of the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. This division of the American Psychological Association promotes “psychological theory, research, and clinical practice to understand the significance of religion and spirituality in people’s lives and in the discipline of psychology” (apadivision.org/division-36). This society is not specially a religious society, but instead a society that welcomes psychologists who may or may not have religious beliefs but who are interested in the psychology of religion and spirituality.
In this article, there were a 26 survey conducted with 5,579 therapists with the integration of religion and spirituality in counseling. In the study, most therapist consider spirituality through their lives, but does not infrequently participate in religious activities. In the study, it was founded that marriage therapists consider more spirituality during their counseling session than other therapists, and marriage therapists is more likely to participate in a religious practice than other therapists.
In his book, “Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling,” Mark McMinn (1996) challenges his readers to explore foundational principles and religious interventions with respect to the integration of the interdisciplinary disciplines of Christianity and psychology. The author describes integration as “that which occurs within the disciplines of counseling and psychotherapy.” (p. 8) More specifically, intradisciplinary integration consists of a counselor implementing of his or her “religious values and beliefs into [the] treatment of a client.” (p. 8) It is difficult for many therapists, even those who have received theological training, to apply biblical principles in therapy. (p. 6)
The results from diverse institutions from the United States give a suggestion that spiritually integrated therapy is desirable and can be beneficial for specific subsets of patients.
This article focuses on the use of prayer and scripture in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). First you must focus on the biblical approach which you acknowledge Gods love and deal with past hurts in a proper manner. You also must focus on Gods Holy Spirit and his scriptures. As the therapist you should not be in self, you have to focus on your client. You have to allow God spirit to be used in the therapy session. There were multiple types of integration that could be used. Implicit integration which refers to a more covert approach that does not initiate the discussion of religious or
Inquiries that seemed relevant for this study included personal religious and spiritual beliefs of therapists, how therapists use their personal religious and spiritual beliefs in their use of explicit integration therapies, and comparison in samples that encompassed explicit integration therapists with samples that mixed secular and religious therapists as well as diverse professional backgrounds that may lead to more or less acceptance of various cultures (Walker et al., 2004, p. 72). These queries touch on the various cultures, religions, beliefs and ideologies that encompass the United States and how important it is for psychologists and counselors to have proper training when using religion and spirituality in order to acknowledge and respect all philosophies.
Compatibility between psychology and religion has been an issue argued for many years. However, men like Dr. William Backus developed a counseling system that utilizes the secular aspects of this treatment. By redefining the aspects,
8). Since this created a problem the Vatican came forward to help in any way possible (Califano,