We Shall Overcome Summary

The benefits of religious counselling is it’s proven efficacy Nathaniel (2005) that illustrates clients as experiencing a greater feeling of closeness within the

Religion plays a major role in our society, especially within the homeless community. Spirituality helps the homeless emotional and mentally, it helps them mange the challenges they must face day to day. Practicing spirituality is often used as a coping mechanism, it’s a source of strength and comfort. Religion gives meaning and purpose to life. Religion also reinforces social unity and stability. Emile Durkheim said “there are two ways religion strengthens social stability. One, it gives people common beliefs, which is important in socialization. Secondly, it brings people together” (Barkens, 2014).

Substance abuse providers that believe spirituality and religion is one in the same, may hold the belief that an individual that is an atheist or agnostic will not have the opportunity to acquire spiritual opportunities when participating in alcohol and addiction programs (Sussman et al., 2013). In addition, these substance abuse providers may believe that when an individual that eliminates alcohol and drug abuse without the intervention of spiritual assistance, such as a Higher Power, they may believe that the individual will not have the capability to achieve and maintain balance within their sobriety and recovery. Sussman et al. (2013) suggests that these substance abuse providers unknowingly engage in a thought process that includes stereotypes. Suggesting that individuals, who engage in spiritual behaviors that do include a Higher Power, are more deserving of achieving sobriety and recovery because they are practicing by being involved with working the 12-step program, thus, making them more righteous in obtaining a blessing from their Higher Power. Noteworthy, the term spirituality is often linked with religion with no specific boundaries out of lack of knowledge. Engaging in a spiritual practice that allows an individual to have a spiritual solution that is higher than them and gives them hope has a significant influence on alcohol and drug abuse. Gedge and Querney (2014) describe discussing spirituality with

Christian counseling is all about integrating psychology, theology and spirituality into counselor and clients lives. Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling gives insight into how these three perspectives can be used to help individuals identify certain aspects of their lives that might be enhanced when the counselor includes spirituality into their counseling sessions. We also see how important it is for the counselor to be in touch with their own spirituality so that

Spirituality and religion are often seen as significantly positive resources for individuals dealing with hardship and adversity throughout the life course. Spiritual coping is often effective and most often employed when in unfathomable situations or faced with "problems of human insufficiency" (Pargament, 1998). However, spirituality may also be diminished when it becomes associated with demoralization or negativity, such as when one feels abandoned by faith or condemned by the world (Van Hook, 2013) in their current situation or experience. Higher powers and spiritual connection then begin to appear either irrelevant or beyond reach, and viewpoints become fatalistic as individuals resign to the belief that their faith has not helped them.

For those who have left the church behind but don’t want to entirely abandon spiritual practice, and also for those who were never a part of the church but are still seeking to foster meaningful spiritual development, Rachelle Mee-Chapman’s new book, Relig-ish: Soulful Living in a

Treatment outcome predictors of African American culture are that one may attend church services weekly to praise and worship. While attending services one will depend on his or her belief in God and worship in faith with a commitment to themselves and God. Spirituality is a strategy one will use to cope with events or experiences within his or her life that is stressful. These strategies are considered external, support from religious beliefs such as prayer, reading the bible, and the reflections of one’s belief. Spirituality is also seen as an integral to health and a sense of one having the feeling of wholeness or well being (Britt, 2004).

Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling is Mark McMinn's book published in 1996 by Tyndale House. In this book, the author continuously discusses that in the counseling office bringing Christianity could be beneficial. The author has experience in cognitive therapy and uses it as theoretical groundwork. He provides examples of the most fitting way for Psychology and Christianity integration. He also provides different challenges that can be of concern when bringing religion into counseling sessions and how those challenges could be approached. These challenges discuss spiritual formation development, personal and professional lives being hazy, certain problems in training, different views of the world, insufficient evidence

Currently, the local church for which this DNP student is to develop the DNP project lacks an FCN, who can provide healthcare services to the church senior’s citizen center, located in the southeast region of the United States (US). According to the director of the church senior’s citizen center, there is an urgent need for FCN. FCN, in this case, can play an integral role by linking faith and health (Van Dover & Pfeiffer, 2011). For example, the ANA and HMA (2012) acknowledged that FCNs promote, and optimize health and abilities, aid in the prevention of injury and illness, and help parishioners in suffering. FCN in this context can enhance better health practices and values of a faith community at the church senior’s citizen center.

Well, even though there seem to be a lot of empirical precedents that suggest a “positive association between religious involvement and beneficial outcomes, existing outcomes research in faith-based settings have treated the faith in faith-based services as a contextual factor rather than a programmatic one” (Ferguson, Wu, Spruijt-Metz, & Dyrness, n.d.). According to Fisher and Ragan (2003 & 2004), there are multiple studies conclude that faith-based services are effective, yet relatively few aim to identify the specific faith components related to successful outcomes . It is crucial for us to operationally and conceptually delineate what the faith

Pardin, Plante, Sherman, and Stump (2000) that until recently the spiritual piece of treatment was rarely considered in the treatment process. However, within the aforementioned research study, findings indicated that individuals

The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior, of social, economic and cultural institutions, and of the interaction of all these factors. Social workers help people of all backgrounds address their own needs through psychosocial services and advocacy. Social workers help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges: poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, divorce, loss, unemployment, educational problems, disability, and mental illness. They help prevent crises and counsel individuals, families, and communities to cope more effectively with the stresses of everyday

“Spirituality is derived from the Latin word spiritus, spirit, the essential part of the person which controls the mind and the mind controls the body. Thus the spirit is the vital life force which motivate people and influence ones life, health behavior and relationships” (Baldacchino & Draper, 2001). She also stated that spirituality is the mainstream of life which unifies all aspects of the human being. Spirituality applies to both believers and non believers, including the presence of diverse cultural beliefs (Baldacchino & Draper, 2001). Culliford stated that : “In times of emotional stress, physical illness, loss, bereavement and death human beings tend to find comfort, peace, inspiration, reverence and meaning by focusing on their spirituality whether they believe in God or not” (Culliford, 2002). In a study conducted by Tuck and Thingajana the meaning of spirituality was voiced by person living with HIV disease and healthy adults. The definitions voiced by the HIV patients were that “Spirituality is relating and believing in God, who is always present. It is perceived as being guided or helped or being inspired or giving unto. Spirituality includes the process of journeying, discovering and centering and is outwardly expressed” (Tuck & Thinganjana, 2007). The definitions of Spirituality expressed by the healthy individuals were that:

Spirituality and religion play a significant role in shaping the lives of individuals. Regardless of whether you follow the practices of an organized religion, simply believe in the spiritual life force or claim to not ascribe to religious or spiritual traditions, all of these paths affect the way an individual interacts with the world around them. One of the major influences of religion or spirituality is on one’s ability to cope with difficult situations. Whether it is the death of a loved one or the loss of a job, religion and spirituality can have monumental effects on how the individual responds to stressful or traumatic

Throughout the book, the author carefully details the need for balance between theology and spirituality, and psychology and Christianity. Though the author discusses methods and approaches that are spiritual but based on a strong theological foundation. “Nothing is more crucial to an effective Christian life that a clear awareness of its foundation” (p. 25). Essentially Crabb (1977) maintains that spirituality is a product of the correct thinking associated with strong theological foundation.