Integrating Spirituality In Clinical Practice: From Trauma to Meaning-Making

Summary of Program:

MPA community members Dr. Angela Schaffner and Christine Wolff, LPC, shared their experiences and wisdom on ways to integrate spirituality into therapy sessions, emphasizing the ethics and competencies related to spirituality, faith deconstruction, and discerning how and when to use spiritual integration in therapy. The workshop addresses the diverse expressions of spirituality across religions, as well as unique perspectives on spirituality across populations of different cultures and subcultures. The research presented also reflects inclusive research practices. The presenters addressed differences in applying ethically informed interventions depending on where the client is in a faith deconstruction process, while considering various client sexual, gender, and religious identities.

Workshop Objectives

This workshop helped participants:

1. Recognize cultural nuances in spiritual and religious beliefs and apply techniques to meet clients where their spiritual beliefs intersect with their psychological processes.

2. Assess when and when not to apply a spiritual approach to address universal life issues.

3. Utilize spiritual suggestions for unseen aspects of lived experiences to address distorted thoughts and dysregulated emotions.

4. Describe how to skillfully navigate significant ethical challenges related to spirituality that arise in session.

5. Explain practices and interventions for guiding clients through faith deconstruction.

6. Demonstrate religious and spiritual competencies as therapists.