First and foremost Julie, you must be very clear in your own mind about the differences between spirituality and organised or personal religious belief or practice. Many people are deeply spiritual without holding any structured religious beliefs. Some are atheist. Rather fewer people I suspect (but have never tested) have little spirituality about the ways the address the world, but hold to religious beliefs.
Your spirituality may be a key element in your preparation for practice, your practice methods and your analysis. That is not a problem of itself, but it becomes a problem if you transfer those understandings to your clients.
Most of the people I work with are occasionally (some usually) deeply spiritual in sessions. They are children at play and that can be a process of a level of spirituality rarely attained by adults. Adults often characterise these children as Moslem, Hindu or Christian. By and large these terms have no meaning in relation to the play processes of the children. They occasionally add some cultural flavour to their activities.
Stephen Rennie, Leeds Metropolitan University
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-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Read [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 12:23 PM
To: psych-couns
Subject: Spirituality
Dear All
Thank you for the responses so far. I shall endeavour to make myself a little clearer. This discourse has proved to be yet another learning curve!
As part of my course I shall be presenting a seminar in two weeks time. My topic is spirituality. I am very aware of my own spirituality and feel ultimately it will aid me in being an effective counsellor (eventually).
I am interested in any member on the list who shares the same view as a counsellor friend of mine (fully qualified). When I asked her, what was her opinion on spirituality in a therapeutic relationship, it was something she had not felt was important in her life, personally and professionally as a counsellor. Is there anybody out there who feels the same way??
At this stage in my training, simplicity, in any answers would be beneficial to me.
I wait with anticipation.
Many thanks
Julie
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