Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Integrative Approach that Empowers Clients

289 Pages·2013·8.5 MB·English

by  Rick Johnson

Praise for Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy: An
Integrative Approach Th at Empowers Clients
“In this book, there are many useful ideas for therapists to refl ect upon in
incorporating client-defi ned spiritual beliefs and practices into the therapeutic
process. Dr. Johnson illustrates through many brief case examples, how
exploring a client’s spiritual journey can enhance the counseling experience.
Th e message developed in this book is that it is never the place of therapists
to impose their spiritual agenda, but to always work as collaborative partners
with clients to discover how they can empower themselves by identifying and
defi ning their spiritual path. Th e author shows how client self-defi ned spiri-
tual practices can support life-affi rming choices and activities, which promote
healing and change.”
Gerald Corey, EdD, ABPP
Professor Emeritus of Human Services and Counseling
California State University, Fullerton
“Unless clients bring up the topic of their spiritual beliefs spontaneously, most
therapists won’t go there and many become uncomfortable and change the
subject when clients do. In doing so, therapists ignore the most important as-
pect of many clients’ lives and a source of great comfort and potential healing.
Drawing from a wide range of spiritual and psychotherapeutic traditions and
integrating them through the concept of True Self, Rick Johnson emboldens
us to help clients explore and strengthen their relationship to their True Selves
and, thereby, to their sense of interconnectedness, wonder, purpose, inner
leadership, and wisdom. Th e book is well written, scholarly yet personal, and
comprehensive. I recommend it strongly.”
Richard C. Schwartz, PhD
Developer of the Internal Family Systems Model of Psychotherapy

SPIRITUALITY IN COUNSELING AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY

SPIRITUALITY IN
COUNSELING
AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY
AN INTEGRATIVE
APPROACH THAT
EMPOWERS CLIENTS
RICK JOHNSON
Cover image: © Jasmina /iStockphoto
Cover design: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Johnson, Rick, 1964 July 21–
Spirituality in counseling and psychotherapy : an integrative approach that empowers clients /
Rick Johnson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-118-14521-0 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-118-26374-7 (ebk.)
ISBN 978-1-118-23910-0 (ebk.)
ISBN 978-1-118-22576-9 (ebk.)
1. Psychotherapy—Religious aspects. 2. Spirituality. I. Title.
RC489.S676J64 2013
616.89’14–dc23
2012041400
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Joellyn, Madelyn, and Mia.
For those who endeavor to embrace what is meaningful and life-affi rming,
and to help others do so in their own unique ways.