Psychotherapists’ understanding and experience of spirituality and religion : implications for practice

Abstract

Recent years have seen a movement away from reluctance in dealing with the spiritual and religious dimensions in psychotherapy to an increased interest in the relationship between spirituality, religion and psychotherapy. An influencing factor has been the acknowledgement of the ‘relative ubiquity of spiritual and religious issues in the human condition’ (Hathaway and Ripley 2009). Consequently, some claim that both spirituality and religion may become visible during moments of crises and times of transition, while also providing a lens through which to view one’s relationships and experiences. [excerpt]