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How clients with religious or spiritual beliefs experience psychological help‐seeking and therapy: A qualitative study
Author(s) -
Mayers Claire,
Leavey Gerard,
Vallianatou Christina,
Barker Chris
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical psychology and psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0879
pISSN - 1063-3995
DOI - 10.1002/cpp.542
Subject(s) - spirituality , religiosity , faith , psychology , psychological distress , religious experience , psychotherapist , distress , qualitative research , social psychology , mental health , sociology , alternative medicine , epistemology , medicine , social science , philosophy , pathology
This qualitative study explored the process of help‐seeking and therapy among clients with religious or spiritual beliefs. Ten clients who were currently in, or had recently finished, therapy were interviewed. Participants reported using their religious or spiritual beliefs to cope with their psychological problems before and during therapy. Prior to therapy, they were worried that secular‐based help might weaken their faith. However, the experience of having psychological distress and the process of receiving therapy were both perceived as strengthening to faith and ultimately part of a spiritual journey. Contrary to expectations, a match between the spirituality or religious affiliation of the therapist and client was not considered important. This implies that the ‘religiosity gap’ between secular therapists and clients with religious/spiritual beliefs is bridgeable. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.