Religion and Spirituality

Abstract

Working with clients around issues relating to spirituality or religion presents a range of challenges and opportunities to counsellors and psychotherapists. It is apparent that clients do not always receive best practice in this area (Jenkins, 2010). It is important to recognise that: • Religion and/or spirituality remains an important part of many people’s lives today • Engaging with spirituality and religion can contribute to people’s health and well being • Therapists need to be familiar with the challenges and benefits of working with their clients around their relationship with religion and spirituality • For many in the field, discussing religious or spiritual dimensions remains something of a taboo. This chapter explores religion and spirituality within counselling and psychotherapy