Stephanie Dailey

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” This is similar to the leap of faith our clients take when coming into counseling. In the last blog I talked about spirituality and informed consent, stating that it is our ethical responsibility to inform clients of our approach to therapy. I also stated that oftentimes it becomes clear during intake and informed consent whether spirituality will be a part of the initial counseling process. The purpose of this blog is to talk about specific questions counselors can ask, during intake, to gain clarity regarding the client’s spiritual and/or religious self.

There is a legend which talks of an old Parisian artist who was so poor that he could not afford any canvases. Feeling in his heart he had a masterpiece to create, he searched for old paintings which he could clean off and use. One day, having found an old daub, he diligently worked to remove layer upon layer of paint. Halfway through he was amazed to discover what looked like a very fine painting. He submitted it to the experts and found, much to his delight, a lost Carot. His days of poverty were over.

Last week I saw a comment on my previous blog which really got me thinking. The comment was in regards to my use of the term “tree hugger”. Despite knowing my intention and the reason why I chose this expression, my initial reaction was one of fear. I was immediately afraid that I had offended someone in an effort to make a point. In a matter of milliseconds this fear morphed into an insecurity which asked “Am I really competent to talk to spiritual matters in counseling?” Then, also in a matter of seconds, I fondly remembered ‘Spiritual Kindergarten’ and my doubt became a teaching moment.

Last week I wrote about adopting a personal definition of spirituality and religion as well as exploring your own spiritual and/or religious journey through an autobiography or timeline. The purpose, at least in the counseling context, is to foster a better understanding of your spiritual and/or religious worldview (a.k.a. your spiritual ‘self’). Since many of us come to the counseling profession from a myriad of spiritual and/or religious backgrounds, this can either serve as a beginning or a continuation of one’s lifelong spiritual journey. I want to emphasize that this exploration is extremely personal. No one can tell you, and I am certainly not going to try, how to go about doing this. But some questions I have found helpful are “Was I raised in a home where religion and/or spirituality played (or didn’t play) a significant role?”; “Am I actively engaged, or have I been engaged, in an organized religion or spiritual practice?”; “What specific beliefs – spiritual, religious, or otherwise – are important to me now?”; “How do these beliefs play out in my life?”; or “When life becomes challenging how do I cope? Where do I turn?”

Depending on which poll you read, about 93% of Americans consider themselves to be religious and/or spiritual. Again, depending on what you read, nearly 75% believe spiritually and/or religion to be integral to their worldview, sense of self, and part of their daily life. Since I am not going to base my livelihood on a Gallop poll, and I bet you won’t either, just think about how often individuals look to their spiritual and/or religious belief system when dealing with life’s problems. Whether a strength during times of crisis or a central element of an individual’s being, one thing is for certain – not addressing spiritual and/or religious issues may mean disregarding an essential part of a client’s functioning.