therapy study

[Millificent]

On Friday, I attended the National Institute of Mental Health Annual Roundtable, which is a conference of representative from all sorts of mental health organizations.

There was a gentleman from the Association of Pastoral Counselors (I think that's the name), who cited an interesting study on why people avoid going into therapy.
He said the number one reason is that people think they can get through their issues without help.

But the number two reason was rather surprising - people said they are afraid that therapists will not have respect for their spiritual beliefs.

I don't remember anyone talking about that fear here. Has anyone experience fear of religious discrimination in therapy?

:dragon Millie

[dreadbunny]

:dragon

I haven't experienced so much fear as exhaustion- none of my outpatient therapists had any understanding of Buddhism whatsoever and I would have to give a Buddhism one-oh-one intro class during my session which I'm paying for out of my pocket. :ugh

In group sessions I have noticed sometimes that people with very strong Christian beliefs get taught that their beliefs are "thought distortions"- I'm not going to argue whether that's right or wrong but I do know I would be weary of having to defend myself.

Interesting topic! :cool

:peace
:bunny

[Eilis]

Hi there Millie :cute

I haven't found it to be a problem in one-on-one therapy, but it has come up in groups before. Where one person was describing how herfaith helped her, then i said how mine helped me, and she started preaching to me. That was a bummer. But this hasnt been too much of a hinderance for me.

:love
Dory

[emma lucy]

:hugon Millie :hugoff

I had never thought of religion being a hindrance in therapy sessions.
I know my T has belief in God as she has mentioned it in passing.
I know through my work for the Mental Health Foundation in the UK, that the religious beliefs of service users must be respected.
In the UK, this particular issue does not seem to be too much of a problem as we are a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country. The doctors come from far and wide and I'm not aware that differing religious beliefs has been a barrier.
It's a very interesting point though. Thanks for bringing it up :grin

[*Lissa*]

:dragonMillie:dragon

I can't recall religion having been an issue in one-on-one therapy, but in groups it has led to some discussions. I guess that comes from being a non-Christian in an essentially Christian, or at least monotheistic, patriarchal, culture. Not that it bothers me, but it can at times feel a bit tiring trying to explain my beliefs to people who are too narrowminded to even try to understand.

[Happyglow]

:hugon Millie:hugoff

Interesting post!

I think we don't realize how important spiritual beliefs are to a lot of people. Any good therapist is going to respect a patient's beliefs and do his/her best to understand them. But it's easy to be afraid of the issue. I didn't even get to talking about my beliefs until months into therapy. I didn't know my T's beliefs. Turned out he was Catholic. I was brought up Methodist. Denominations don't really make much difference. I think it depends on the individual. I agree with some aspects of my denomination and disagree with others.

So I've found we've been able to discuss my beliefs. And in some ways, religion conflicted with my well-being. Religion being other people's perceptions of what we should do for God.

My spiritual gifts are helps and exhortation and teaching. Not evangelism. But at the time I was coming down with an ED, the Christian group at my school was emphasizing "REVIVAL" and had big evangelism things, saying that "you should be like so-and-so and so-and-so. They're not afraid of persecution" Well, that got to me. As if I wasn't as 'good' a Christian because I didn't want to be late for class because the leaders at See You At the Pole were continuing to pray after the tardy bell. As if I wasn't as 'good' a Christian because I didn't go out in the parking lot and hold up signs that said "Repent, Receive Jesus" every morning. And for some reason, I started to believe that. I lost faith in my own gifts that God had given me.

So that's just me venting. And one of the things that's really helped me is discussing my beliefs with my T, and how some things didn't really matter that much, and that God has an unconditional love for me. I still choose to make my own decisions on my beliefs, but my T has always accepted them, and let me find my own way.

[Twilastar]

:hugonMillie:dragon:hugoff

I went to Christian centered therapy so no I have never experienced fear of religious discrimination in therapy.

:cute
Gen

[SanFran]

Hmmm....that's interesting. No, I haven't worried that my Ts might not agree with my religious beliefs. I have however, worried my doc might persuade me to join her religion, but that's a whole different story altogether....:sarcasm

[Snap*Crackle*Pop]

I am seeing an AWESOME Christian counselor. She is from my Church. I stopped seeing my therapist for many reasons, one was that she told me that I don't have enough time for Church. I just looked at her and laughed. I've been seeing my new counselor for about four
months and things are going really well. Yes...I still struggle, but I know what I need to do, and I am doing it. Christian counseling is VERY VERY VERY important. It helps you see the truth in things and not just by the info that drs, therapists and nutritionists have, but by the Bible, and scripture. It is SO awesome and wonderful to turn to a vrs. that some think it has no meaning when others need it and it is just what they were looking for. God will heal, and ya know what...? He will heal COMPLETELY. Yes most say that you will struggle for the rest of your life, but I believe as does my counselor that God will heal, and that one day I (we) will be free from this. Also, another thing, my counselor and I never ever use the word "eating disorder" she says that yes it is a mental illness, but do you see "eating disorder" anywhere in the Bible? We use words like Non-Godly eating habbits, or struggles, anxiety..words that you can and will find in the Bible.

Well :fishy's have a GREAT day! You're all in my prayers!

Love, Snap*Crackle*Pop

[Twilastar]

:cuteSnapCrackle! Praise God! :hairy

----Gen:fishy