Including Spiritual Perspective in Counseling Essay

Spirituality has been assumed to transcend religion and has been viewed as an unnecessary aspect to address during counseling. However, spirituality is considered to go above and beyond religion as it is the arena that links individuals with something that is much larger and much greater than the universe itself. Spirituality takes into account the philosophic and cognitive reasoning that encapsulates an individual's emotions and behavior. To some extent, particular researchers have gone further to state that the path of spirituality is one where an individual is getting in touch with the true nature of his/her existence. On the other hand, spirituality can as well give one internal awareness and happiness. It is, therefore, important to include spiritual perspective in counseling as it can provide answers as well as healing. This paper aims at arguing the case for including a spiritual aspect in counseling.

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Indeed, religion is the manifestation of spirituality. However, there are those that identify themselves to be spiritual but do not necessarily ascribe to any one particular religion. It shows the broad nature of spirituality. Furthermore, and an aspect that may be important for this argument, spirituality has been identified in some arenas as wellness and tranquility. Certain practices have been described as linking one to his/her spiritual sense albeit without a particular inclination to a specific form of religion. For instance, the practice of dance, meditation, volunteer work, and yoga have all been described as having a particular effect on one's spirituality but are not identified as religion. Indeed, some of these practices such as meditation and yoga have been identified as practices used in certain counseling settings.

Religion has for a long time been identified as the go-to for anyone who needs therapy and counseling. This is mainly because many religions teach about caring for each other and being kind to one another. It is why many religions particularly Christianity are viewed as safe havens for people dealing with different kind of problems. As such, because of this reasoning, spirituality, especially in counseling, must have a religious backdrop to it. To some extent, it could well be true especially where the advice is also used as a front for converting new members, but it could well be untrue. The spiritual perspective in counseling can be utilized in any aspect of counseling, and it could have positive results without necessarily integrating, recruiting and radicalizing one into a particular religion. Indeed, it has been identified that the integration of religion into counseling could bring more harm than good.

The client's best interest should always be the driving factor in counseling. The Christian counseling is aimed at bringing healing to people through tending their souls and assisting them through the realization of Christ's important role in their lives with the end focus of bringing healing, growth, and renewal in people and their relationships. Collaborating the Christian faith into counseling is a way of having a spiritual perspective of counseling that goes beyond the secular form of counseling. The secular form of counseling draws upon the person of the counselor. Spirituality exists within us, and it also needs healing which secular counseling does not address.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the spiritual perspective is essential to consider in all elements and arenas of counseling as it can bring more profound healing to an individual. It is certain that Christian counseling includes spirituality to bring healing as well as administer the message of Christ to an individual. It is also essential for other forms of counseling to institute and integrate spirituality as it can bring healing to the client because spirituality involves speaking to the inner soul and getting healed from within is the best chance of getting total healing all-round. Religion does not necessarily to be instituted or play a factor in instituting spirituality. As such, other counselors should well copy Christian counseling as well as additional spiritual counseling as they have far-reaching benefits to a client through the inclusion of religious perspective into counseling.