Integrating Spiritual Experiences in Counseling
Elfie Hinterkopf
Counseling and Values April 1, 1994 DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-007x.1994.tb00834.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that most mental health professionals lack training to address spiritual experiences therapeutically and proposes that Gendlin's experiential focusing method gives counselors a tool for helping clients integrate such experiences in counseling. The article defines spiritual experience, outlines focusing, offers application examples, and discusses implications. |
Abstract
Although the spiritual dimension is an integral part of psychotherapy, most mental health professionals lack the necessary training for working with spiritual experiences therapeutically. The experiential focusing method developed by Eugene Gendlin (eg., 1969, 1981) offers a key tool for counselors to help clients integrate their spiritual experiences in counseling. In this article, the author offers a definition of the spiritual experience, outlines the focusing method, presents examples of its application, and discusses the implications of using focusing to help clients integrate spirituality in counseling.