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Becoming Confident In Addressing Client Spiritual Or Religious Orientation In Counseling: A Grounded Theory Understanding, Douglas R. Tillman, Julie A. Dinsmore, David D. Hof, Christine Chasek

Counseling Faculty Publications

The process of how counselors develop confidence in addressing the spiritual or religious orientation of the client during therapy was explored using a qualitative, grounded theory framework. Results suggest that developing this confidence, as well as avoiding pitfalls when incorporating spirituality or religious orientation in the therapeutic process, are shaped by the counselor's personal spiritual journey. Formative factors include having opportunities to socially construct knowledge and skill, the level of reverence and respect for spirituality, and the degree of internal drive on the part of the counselor to become more confident. Implications of these findings for counselor practice are discussed.