Introduction
A person’s whole health, especially their mental health, may be profoundly impacted by their level of spirituality, making it an essential component of existence. The purpose of the research carried out by Brown et al. (2013) was to evaluate the connection between spiritual characteristics and psychological variables, especially between religious coping methods and spiritual well-being, as well as anxiety and depression. However, the authors note that their research has certain limitations, one of which is that it does not adequately define spirituality, which might be challenging when doing religious counseling. In this paper, I will discuss how this limitation can affect religious counseling and provide my thoughts on the apparent contradiction of incorporating God into one’s life while also incorporating self-reliance. I will begin by defining “religious counseling” and then discuss how this limitation can affect religious counseling.
Defining Spirituality as an Obstacle in Religious Counseling
The concept of spirituality may mean many different things to people of different countries, faiths, and backgrounds. According to the definition offered by Brown et al. (2013), spirituality may be described as “a link to a greater power or force that brings meaning and purpose to life” (Brown et al., 2013). Even if this term is helpful in the larger scope of their study, it is unlikely to be adequate when used in religious counseling. In religious therapy, an individual’s religious beliefs and practices are frequently used to define what it means to be spiritual. A Christian counselor may, for instance, describe spirituality as having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and adhering to the principles found in the Bible. Submission to the will of Allah and adherence to the teachings of the Quran are two possible definitions of spirituality that a Muslim counselor may offer. Hence, to successfully include spirituality in therapy, the counselor must understand the client’s religious history and views.
However, difficulties occur when the client’s conception of spirituality is incompatible with the counselor’s understanding of the term. A customer, for instance, may say that they are spiritual but not religious and that they understand spirituality to be a connection to the natural world and the cosmos. Suppose the counselor’s view of spirituality is restricted to the confines of a specific religion. In that case, they may have difficulty incorporating spirituality into the therapy process in situations like these (Brown et al., 2013). The client may make less progress toward attaining their individualized therapeutic objectives.
Seeming Contradiction in Incorporating God and Self-Reliance
According to Brown et al. (2013), having a healthy spiritual life may involve having a relationship with God and a strong sense of personal autonomy. Incorporating God and self-reliance into one’s spiritual well-being may be viewed as striking a balance between faith in a higher force and self-reliance (Brown et al., 2013). In my opinion, it is a subtle and complicated idea. Ultimately, spiritual expression is a highly private and personalized experience, and it is crucial to respect and value each person’s distinctive viewpoint and path. For instance, a person who believes in God may look to their faith for direction and solace, but they may also act and make decisions based on their agency and judgment. Similarly, a person who values independence may find courage and motivation in their skills and resources. Counselors can assist clients in investigating and articulating their values and beliefs to address the seeming conflict between God and self-reliance in spiritual well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article “Assessing Spirituality – The Connection Between Spirituality and Mental Health” offers insightful information about how spirituality, religious coping mechanisms, and mental health are related. According to the study, those who reported high spiritual well-being also used religious coping strategies more frequently. This finding suggests that religion and spirituality can be effective coping mechanisms for people who struggle with anxiety and depression.
Reference
Brown, D. R., Carney, J. S., Parrish, M. S., & Klem, J. L. (2013). Assessing spirituality: The relationship between spirituality and mental health. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 15(2), 107-122. Web.