Does Spirituality Matter?

Originally written by Christian Swan on April 9, 2017 

"Would it be preposterous to you that, before we diagnose seasonal affective disorder, we have to rule out first starvation of the spirit, and that before we prescribe serotonin reuptake inhibitors or megalight, we first prescribe courses on Emerson and Thoreau and lessons in cross country skiing?" -Paul Fleischmann, M.D., delivered to the American Psychiatric Association, May 1993

During my undergraduate years in South Carolina, I participated in a sorority. When sorority "rush" occurred every January, we were asked to stay away from the Three Bs: No Bush (the president at the time), Bedroom, or Bible. For many, talk of politics, sex, or religion is viewed to be inappropriate or impolite. By mentioning them, you run the risk of making someone feel uncomfortable or marginalized. There are times in my life when I have understood people's desire to steer clear of these subjects. However, I have noticed a change in my personal life where I now notice an increased comfort around conversations related to politics or sexual themes. Talking confidently about politics can now be seen as a sign of increased education, while speaking of sexual matters demonstrates a confidence in one's self. And yet, even among circles where individuals share a common religion/spirituality, I sometimes experience tension when the topic comes up. Talk of spirituality can easily be perceived as a weakness, or something so intimate that it should not be shared with others.

As I've entered the therapy world, I have been surprised to learn that spirituality is still perceived as an uncomfortable subject. In my practice, I am passionate about including my clients' spiritual beliefs as they best see fit during our time together. After all, if we cannot experiment with topics that make us uncomfortable in the counseling setting, how are we ever going to be able to navigate them in our daily lives?

Before or during my first session with every client, I ask a variety of questions so that I can get a better understanding of who he/she is. Toward the end of my questions, I always ask about spirituality. Personal spiritual beliefs, practices, and past experiences immensely shape one's view the world. "But what if I believe in no deity and have no spiritual practice in my life?" You may wonder. Knowing this about my clients before we begin to do healing work is very helpful to me as a therapist, as it still makes a statement about how you view the world. 

There are times in which one's spirituality can be an asset in counseling. For example, consider an individual who professes to have few friends and is new to Denver. As a therapist, one might assume that this person has a limited support system and operate accordingly. But what if this same individual feels very connected to God and finds comfort in daily prayer and Scripture study? Knowing this about a client is very helpful in assessing the client's support system and also in using the client's perceived closeness with God as an asset in the therapeutic work. 

On the other hand, consider an individual who has recently experienced a trauma. While she felt connected spiritually before the event occurred, she now confidently proclaims that she doesn't believe in God and feels frustrated that she spent so much time investing in her spirituality in the past. It is important for me to know this information as a therapist in order to factor this individual's loss of a previous support system into her healing. 

After I ask about a client's spiritual background, I may ask follow-up questions. Specifically, are there ways that we can integrate your spirituality into our sessions to enhance your healing? It is important to me that we integrate your spiritual background to your comfort level in our time together. 

Does spirituality matter in the healing process? Yes. However, you get to be the one to decide the extent of its integration.