Homework Lance
Overall, you did a good job on the portion of the paper that you wrote. Unfortunately you did not meet the word count requirement. I believe your word count was estimated around 459 words. In 1,250-1,500 words, describe the ethical implications of implementing religion or spirituality into therapy.
Ethics and competence play a major role in therapy associated with religion and spirituality. Psychological therapy can be difficult in assisting clients that may have problems with religion and spirituality. The psychologist must have specific training in this area because the is a very sensitive issue and if not addressed by the correct trained psychologist the client could potentially endure severe harm. Recognizing the bases of religion and spirituality is very important in understanding the client needs and with sufficient therapy you the psychologist and the client both can receive very successful results. “Sufficient competency in spiritual and religious issues in psychology should resemble competence in other areas of expertise: a sufficiently broad and detailed combination of course work, supervised experience, continuing education, consultation and other standard vehicles that together are satisfactory to licensing boards and ethics committees” (Abu, 2010). Ethics are essential in successful therapy of clients that may have problems or existing problems that resulted from spiritual and religious psychological needs. Morally and ethically we as counselors and psychologist must be trained and equipped to assist in the therapy of clients that may have issues with religion and spirituality to assure adequate treatment. “The primary focus is on possible boundary issues for poorly prepared counselors, such as over-identifying with client’s spiritual issue” (Sietz, 2005). APA has guidelines and standards that are set up to assure that potential clients get the necessary help and services by the best equipped psychologist that are trained well and are a master in the discipline. Ethics are the bases surrounding successful treatment and therapy of client dealing with issues of religion and spirituality. Ethical commitment to do what is right for each client/patient and well informed approaches to treatment will reduce but not eliminate, ethical challenges that will continue to emerge as scientific and professional knowledge advances” (GCU Media). We are; morally inclined to assure the client gets the proper help needed to assure that the problems don’t reoccur. Policies are also in place to make sure the psychologist are competent in assisting clients who have situations that involve religion and spirituality. “The central point is just this: beliefs are less than competent, even if they reason clearly, in light of their beliefs, then “it is morally perilous and fails as a policy (without specific and careful qualification.” This point certainly cries out for elaboration, but it sounds good” (Childress, 2007).
References
Abu Raiya H.A. & Pargament, K.I. (2010). Religiously Integrated Psychotherapy with muslim clients: From Research to practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41, 188-188. http://dx.doi.org110.1037/a0017988
Seitz, C. (2005). Review of Integrated Spirituality and Religion Ito Counseling: A guide to Competent Practice Counseling and Values, 50 (1), 76-77. Do:10.10021j. 2161-007x.2005.tb 0042.x.
Childress, James F. (2007). “Must We Always Respect Religious Beliefs”? Hasting Center Report. P. 3.
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