What about spirituality?
Certainly, it's not necessary for a person to have a spiritual belief or practice in order to benefit from psychotherapy.
What I want you to know is that whether or not you have a spiritual belief or practice, you are welcome here. What I want you to know is that if you do have a spiritual belief or practice, that belief or practice is also welcome here. In fact, a very important aspect of good psychotherapy is the practitioner's respect for each person's beliefs, and how those beliefs are used or understood for healing and living, in each person's culture. I have tried throughout my life to educate myself in the practices of cultures and religions, so that I may greet each person with some understanding, and try to not be clueless about the rich variety of life, culture, and experience. Also, I have been exposed to and within several different cultures and religions during my life, and may understand something here and there. Nonetheless, I cannot assume I know a culture that I am not a part of, and so I look for opportunities to understand, and to myself maintain good boundaries. I also welcome questions about my own spirituality, and if you need to ask those questions as you're interviewing potential therapists, or during the process of therapy, please do. I understand that some people are looking to work with a practitioner who shares their practices and beliefs, and that's ok. So, whatever your worldview, religion, or practice, you and it are welcome here, and I hope to help you integrate our work into your spiritual practice, if that's what you want. |