Northstar Counseling

Spirituality is a meaningful resource that many clients use to support their clinical work. The power of clients’ spirituality is amplified when MFTs are also competent to work with clients’ spirituality within the therapeutic context.

This workshop briefly reviews current research on the use of spirituality/religion within marriage and family therapy, explores the contours of positive and negative spiritual/religious coping, models therapeutic approaches for the inclusion of spirituality/religion within the therapeutic setting, and discusses what therapists might do when confronted with“spiritual counter transference.”

Participants that complete this workshop will:

• Comprehend the current research on the inclusion of spirituality within marriage and family therapy.
• Differentiate positive spiritual/religious coping strategies from negative spiritual/religious coping strategies.
• Practice engaging clients in spiritually-oriented therapeutic conversation in compliance with AAMFT ethical standards.
• Discuss the self-of-therapist when confronted with “spiritual counter transference.”