1st Edition
The Psychology of Religion and Spirituality for Clinicians Using Research in Your Practice
Many therapists and counselors find themselves struggling to connect the research on the psychology of religion and spirituality to their clinical practice. This book will address this issue, providing a valuable resource for clinicians that will help translate basic research findings into useful clinical practice strategies. The editors and chapter authors, all talented and respected scholar-clinicians, offer a practical and functional understanding of the empirical literature on the psychology of religion and spirituality of, while at the same time outlining clinical implications, assessments, and strategies for counseling and psychotherapy. Chapters cover such topics as religious and spiritual identity, its development, and its relationship with one’s personality; client God images; spiritually transcendent experiences; forgiveness and reconciliation; and religion and spirituality in couples and families. Each concludes with clinical application questions and suggestions for further reading. This book is a must-read for all those wishing to ground their clinical work in an empirical understanding of the role that religion and spirituality plays in the lives of their clients.
Aten, O’Grady, Worthington, The Psychology of Religion and Spirituality for Clinicians: An Introduction. Desrosiers, Development of Religion and Spirituality across the Lifespan. Wink, Adler, Dillon, Development and Narrative Perspectives on Religious and Spiritual Identity for Clinicians. Hill, Smith, Sandage, Religious and Spiritual Motivations in Clinical Practice. Miller, Worthington, Jr., Connection between Personality and Religion. Moriarty, Davis, Client God Images: Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice. O'Grady, Bartz, Addressing Spiritually Transcendent Experiences in Psychotherapy. Slattery, Park, Religious and Spiritual Beliefs in Psychotherapy: A Meaning Perspective. Murray-Swank, N., Murray-Swank, A., Navigating the Storm: Helping Clients in the Midst of Spiritual Struggles. Krumei, Rosmarin, Processes of Religious and Spiritual Coping. Worthington, Jr., et al, Forgiveness and Reconciliation within the Psychology of Religion. Wiggins, Religion and Spirituality in Couples and Families. Toussaint, Webb, Keltner, Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Health. Masters, Hooker, Impact of Religion and Spirituality on Physical Health. O'Grady, Worthington, Jr., Aten, Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice in the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.
Biography
Jamie D. Aten, PhD, is the Dr. Arthur P. Rech and Mrs. Jean May Rech Associate Professor of Psychology and Co-Director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College.
Kari A. O’Grady, PhD, is an assistant professor at Loyola University Maryland.
Everett L. Worthington, Jr., PhD, is a professor of psychology at the Virginia Commonwealth University.
"There are many books in the Psychology of Religion; some cover theory, and others practice. This is the first truly integrative work that clearly outlines how theory moves into practice. A great book for scholars, academics, and practitioners at all levels. This book is readable and engaging and provides an excellent synthesis of the current state of the field. Its ability to seamlessly tie together paradigms with practice techniques makes this volume a must read." - Ralph L. Piedmont, PhD, Professor of Pastoral Counseling, Loyola University Maryland; founding Editor, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
"This is a great book! Distilling key findings from over one-hundred years of theory and research in the psychology of religion, this outstanding, groundbreaking work clearly and compellingly bridges the research-practice gap by articulating numerous implications and intervention strategies for effective clinical practice." - P. Scott Richards, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology, Brigham Young University; Past-President and Fellow of Division 36 of the American Psychological Association
"It's exciting and refreshing to see a text that so skillfully blends conceptual work, empirical research, and clinical suggestions related to the psychology of religion and spirituality." - Julie Exline, PhD, Associate Professor, Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
"This empirically grounded and clinically rich text succeeds in bridging the gap between the psychology of religion and spirituality research and clinical practice. I highly recommend it to both students and seasoned professionals alike." - Harold G. Koenig, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director, Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health, Duke University Medical Center
"This book does a phenomenal joub of serving as a foundation for all clinicians interested in furthering their experience and knowledge of religion and spirituality in their practice. [It] is a great reference text. Presented in a comprehensive format, the reader is exposed to a variety of clinical practice suggestions developed from through research. Readers would benefit from the information presented as a resouce for learning more about reliigion and spirituality in the context of psychological inquiry."- Greg A. Meyer, Association for Humanistic Counseling
