Abstract
Clients’ existential, spiritual, and religious needs in clinical settings
Objectives: Existential, spiritual, and religious needs are seldom assessed systematically in therapeutic settings. However, these needs may very well be present and a core concern for the client. Thus, psychologists risk to overlook important needs of the client. In the present study, we tested a method of assessing clients’ existential, spiritual, and religious needs in a private psycho-therapeutic clinic. We investigated how clients described these needs, and how they experienced them in relation to coping.
Methods: Written consents were obtained from 33 clients and expressions concerning existential, spiritual, or religious needs were extracted from the records. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied to analyse the qualitative data.
Results: All clients reported religious belief, and more than half described their faith as both a strength and a challenge. Case-analysis showed that psychological aspects were interwoven with religious belief and with the function of the belief. Further, the psychological approach in relation to religious challenges seemed to help clients restructure resulting in a more flexible faith and practice.
Conclusions: Assessing existential, spiritual, and religious needs is a valuable way to understand the clients’ lifeworld. Using a structured approach in clinical practice helps psychologists to prioritise this perspective in the communication with the clients.
Objectives: Existential, spiritual, and religious needs are seldom assessed systematically in therapeutic settings. However, these needs may very well be present and a core concern for the client. Thus, psychologists risk to overlook important needs of the client. In the present study, we tested a method of assessing clients’ existential, spiritual, and religious needs in a private psycho-therapeutic clinic. We investigated how clients described these needs, and how they experienced them in relation to coping.
Methods: Written consents were obtained from 33 clients and expressions concerning existential, spiritual, or religious needs were extracted from the records. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied to analyse the qualitative data.
Results: All clients reported religious belief, and more than half described their faith as both a strength and a challenge. Case-analysis showed that psychological aspects were interwoven with religious belief and with the function of the belief. Further, the psychological approach in relation to religious challenges seemed to help clients restructure resulting in a more flexible faith and practice.
Conclusions: Assessing existential, spiritual, and religious needs is a valuable way to understand the clients’ lifeworld. Using a structured approach in clinical practice helps psychologists to prioritise this perspective in the communication with the clients.
| Translated title of the contribution | Klienters eksistentielle, åndelige og religiøse behov i kliniske sammenhænge: Erfaringer fra psykologisk praksis |
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| Original language | English |
| Publication date | 20. Oct 2018 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 20. Oct 2018 |
| Event | Nordic Conference in Psychology of Religion: Addressing existential questions in health care - Honne hotel og konferencecenter, Honne, Biri, Norway Duration: 21. Oct 2018 → 23. Oct 2018 |
Conference
| Conference | Nordic Conference in Psychology of Religion |
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| Location | Honne hotel og konferencecenter |
| Country/Territory | Norway |
| City | Honne, Biri |
| Period | 21/10/2018 → 23/10/2018 |