The Therapeutic Benefits of Well-Integrated Religion and Spirituality
In this evidence-based synthesis paper, I reviewed the findings of 18 peer-reviewed, empirical studies dating from 2001 to 2022. The goal of this review was to determine effective methods of integrating religion and spirituality into counseling. In addition, I focused on some of the mental and physical benefits of religion and spirituality in the face of struggles, such as trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, and chronic illness. In the last 20 years, the constructs of religion and spirituality and their relation to mental health have increasingly become the subject of research. Most studies have shown that including religion and spirituality in counseling is helpful for patients who value religion and spirituality. There are various assessments that counselors can include during intake and treatment which help gauge the client’s religion and spirituality as well as help the counselor to protect against bias. There is evidence suggesting that the integration of these into counseling increases positive affect, strengthens the client-counselor relationship, and increases positive treatment outcomes. Religion and spirituality as coping strategies lose effectiveness in adolescents as they age. Additionally, religion and spirituality have also been found to be detrimental to clients who do not have strong theodicies and clients with low levels of engagement in faith. Negative religious coping strategies were also found to be associated with more negative outcomes in comparison to individuals who use positive or other non-religious coping strategies.
PSY 499, Senior Capstone
Erin Mueller
Womack 100
10:30 – 11 AM