Benutzer:Sahel108/Spirituality in Psychotherapy

The integration of spirituality in psychotherapy has long been a topic of debate. Traditionally, mental health professionals have shown reluctance to incorporate spirituality, often influenced by secular perspectives dominant in the fields of psychiatry and psychology. Figures like Sigmund Freud viewed religion critically, describing it as an illusion^[1], while Albert Ellis considered religious beliefs potentially harmful to rational thinking^[2]. Such viewpoints contributed to a general antagonism toward spirituality within mental health care.

However, recent decades have witnessed a paradigm shift. Research reveals that a significant proportion of individuals—approximately 70–80% in some surveys—utilize spiritual or religious beliefs and practices as coping mechanisms for daily challenges and significant life stressors^[3]. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic value of addressing spiritual and religious dimensions in mental health care.

References Freud, S. (1927). The Future of an Illusion. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Ellis, A. (1980). "Psychotherapy and Atheistic Values: A Response to A. E. Bergin's 'Psychotherapy and Religious Values.'" Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48(5), 635–639. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.48.5.635. Pargament, K. I., Smith, B. W., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (1998). "Patterns of Positive and Negative Religious Coping with Major Life Stressors." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4), 710–724. doi:10.2307/1388152.