The Role of Faith, Religion and Spirituality in Wellbeing (CO3009Z)

Content

Freud did us a great disservice when he equated religion to a neurosis. In fact, ≥85% of the world’s population has a faith position. Recent evidence also suggests that spiritual/religious interventions may be more effective than traditional psychological interventions! Therefore, counsellors should not ignore matters of faith, religion and/or spirituality. Even so, counsellors must be aware of how psycho-spiritual practices have been abused, or may be harmful to some clients. It is hoped that by the end of this unit students will be able to integrate basic psycho-spiritual and religious interventions into their professional work in a safe and efficacious way.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 3, semester 2 (term 4).

Prerequisites: CO1004Z The Human Condition CO1005Z Introduction to Counselling CO1007Z Introduction to Psychology CO2001Z Human Development, Personality, And Identity CO2006Z What Is Abnormal?: The Individual, Diagnostics, And Society CO2007Z Counselling Ethics, The Law, And Best Practice CO2008Z Self-Care And The Workplace

Prohibited combinations: CO3010Z The Well Community

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning In practice: This is a collaborative way of learning that takes note of the learner’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). By repeatedly extending the learner’s ZPD they develop a comprehensive and integrated system of knowledge/skills. Scaffolded learning is achieved through the provision of online modules which clearly guide a student’s learning; through activities of increased complexity during intensives; by face-to-face seminars which are tailored to induce academic/professional growth in an ordered and coherent way; and by assessments which not only seek to identify that key knowledge/skills have been learnt, but that the student is developing an integrated understanding of counselling.

Indicative Bibliography

1. Beres, L. (2022). The language of the soul in Narrative Therapy: Spirituality in clinical theory and practice. Routledge.
2. Gill, C., & Freund, R. (2018). Spirituality and religion in counselling: Competency-based strategies for ethical practice. Routledge.
3. Hanh, T. N. (2007). The art of power. Harper One.
4. Hatala, A., & Roger, K. (Eds.; 2022). Spiritual, religious, and faith-based practices in chronicity: An exploration of mental wellness in global context. Routledge.
5. Hood, S. (2022). A Critical investigation into the use of spiritual/religious interventions by professional counsellors [doctoral thesis, University of Divinity].
6. Jastrzębski, A. (2023). Integrating spirituality into counselling: Methods and practices. Routledge.
7. Koenig, H. (2018). Religion and mental health: Research and clinical applications. Academic Press.
8. Merton, T. (1972). New seeds of contemplation. New Directions.
9. Moore, T. (1992). Care of the soul. Harper.
10. Nouwen, H. (1986). Lifesigns: Intimacy, fecundity, and ecstasy in Christian perspective. Image Books.

Assessment