Counseling and Psychotherapy of Religious Clients: A Developmental Approach

by Vicky Genia

Overview

This is a resource for helping professional caregivers respond sensitively and competently to individuals who present religious concerns in counseling and psychotherapy. The need for a guide to psychological treatment is underscored by evidence that the majority of Americans hold strong religious convictions. Genia shows how, regardless of particular religious allegiances, a person's faith normally progresses through five distinct stages over the course of a lifetime. Psychological conflicts may cause developmental aberrations that lead to unhealthy and destructive forms of faith. The book provides psychological profiles of adults who typify each stage and shows how spiritual and psychological problems are inextricably intertwined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275951078
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/24/1995
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	1350L (what's this?)

About the Author

VICKY GENIA is a psychologist at the American University Center for Psychological and Learning Services in Washington, D.C. She has written well-received articles on psychospiritual counseling, one of which will be published in Counseling: The Spiritual Dimension (1995).

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
The Nature of Faith
Psychological Perspectives on Faith
Psychospiritual Development
Stage 1: Egocentric Faith
Psychotherapy of the Egocentric Client
The Case of Brian: God of Wrath
Stage 2: Dogmatic Faith
Psychotherapy of the Dogmatic Client
Stage 3: Transitional Faith
Psychotherapy of the Transitional Client
The Case of Alice: God of Ideals
Stage 4: Reconstructed Faith
Stage 5: Transcendent Faith
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Identifies five stages of spiritual growth and the psychological characteristics typical of people in each stage, emphasizing the importance of childhood experiences in spiritual evolution. A psychological rather than theological approach, designed to help secular therapists and pastoral counselors deal with clients who have gotten stuck in an early stage and are exhibiting unhealthy or destructive forms of faith. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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