Abstract
This chapter examines the role of religion and spirituality (R/S) in intercultural therapy. We define intercultural therapy as a form of psychotherapy conducted among culturally diverse groups and as such acknowledges the importance of race, culture, beliefs, values, attitudes, religion and language in clients’ lives (Kareem, Intercultural therapy: themes, interpretations and practice. Blackwell, London, 1999). Working across cultures psychotherapeutically often involves discussion of R/S especially among many migrant groups. Literature suggests that psychotherapists are adverse to discussing religious topics (Delaney et al., Prof Psychol Res Pract 38:538–546, 2007). Here we argue that such discussions are essential. After consideration of religion in mental health, more specifically the work of Freud, Jung and religious CBT, we move on to address the inclusion of R/S themes in intercultural therapy. Here religion is defined as a cultural system of beliefs, practices, rituals and symbols designed to help the individual with sacred and/or transcendent aspects; spirituality is a personal quest for answers in relation to the meaning of life and relationships with sacred and/or transcendent aspects (Koenig, Handbook of religion and health: a century of research reviewed. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2001).
Keywords
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Pargament KI. The psychology of religion and coping: theory, research, practice. New York: Guilford; 1997.
Stanley MA, Bush AL, Camp ME, et al. Older adults’ preferences for religion/spirituality in treatment of anxiety and depression. Aging Ment Health. 2011;15(3):334–43.
Keating AM, Fretz BR. Christians’ anticipations about counselors in response to counselor descriptions. J Couns Psychol. 1990;37:293–6.
Belaire C, Young JS. Conservative Christians’ expectations of non-Christian counselors. Couns Values. 2002;46(3):175–87.
Tan SY. Integrating spiritual direction into psychotherapy: ethical issues and guidelines. J Psychol Theol. 2003;31:14–23.
Frosh S. Hate and the ‘Jewish Science’: anti-Semitism, Nazism and psychoanalysis. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan; 2005.
Freud S. Obsessive actions and religious practices. In: The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, Vol. IX (1906-1908): Jensen’s ‘Gradiva’ and other works; 1907. 115-12.
Freud, S. (1913). Totem and taboo, the standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, Vol. 13.
Fromm E. Psychoanalysis and religion. New Haven and London: Yale University Press; 1950.
Freud S. The future of an illusion (J. Strachey, trans and ed). New York: W. W. Norton; 1989.
Freud S. Civilization and its discontents. New York: W. W. Norton; 1962.
Freud S. Moses and monotheism (K. Jones, trans). London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis; 1939.
Jung CG. Psychology and alchemy. Volume 12, para. 6. In: The Collected Works of C.G. Jung; 1944.
Jung CG. Psychology and alchemy. Volume 12, para. 11. In: The Collected Works of C.G. Jung; 1944.
Hayes SC, Smith S. Get out of your mind and into your life: the new acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland: New Harbinger; 2005.
Linehan MM. Understanding borderline personality disorder: the dialectic approach program manual. New York: Guilford; 1995.
Didonna F, editor. Clinical handbook of mindfulness. New York: Springer; 2009.
Segal ZV, Williams JMG, Teasdale JD. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: a new approach to preventing relapse. New York: Guilford; 2002.
Ellis A. Can rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) be effectively used with people who have devout beliefs in God and religion? Prof Psychol Res Pract. 2000;31:29–33.
Beck AT. Cognitive therapy of the emotional disorders. New York: International University Press; 1976.
Ellis A. Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Citadel Press; 1962.
Beck JS. Cognitive behavior therapy: basics and beyond. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford; 2011.
Carlson K, González-Prendes A. Cognitive behavioral therapy with religious and spiritual clients: a critical perspective. J Spiritual Mental Health. 2016;18(4):253–82.
Kizilhan JI. Religious and cultural aspects of psychotherapy in Muslim patients from tradition-oriented societies. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2014;26(3):335–43. https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2014.899203.
Pearce M, Koenig H, Robins C, Nelson B, Shaw S, Cohen H, King M. Religiously integrated cognitive behavioural therapy: a new method of treatment for major depression in patients with chronic medical illness. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2015;52(1):56–66.
Avants SK, Margolin A. Development of spiritual self-schema therapy for the treatment of addictive and HIV risk behavior: a convergence of cognitive and Buddhist psychology. J Psychother Integr. 2004;14(3):253–89.
Epstein M. Thoughts without a thinker: Buddhism and psychoanalysis. Psychoanal Rev. 1995;82(4):391–406.
Rubin JB. Psychotherapy and Buddhism: toward an integration. New York: Plenum Press; 1996.
Segal ZV, Teasdale JD, Williams JM, Gemar MC. The mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adherence scale: interrater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctiveness. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2002;9:131–8.
Tarakeshwar N, Pearce MJ, Sikkema J. Development and implementation of a spiritual coping group intervention for adults living with HIV/AIDS: a pilot study. Mental Health Relig Cult. 2005;8:179–90.
Koszycki D, Raab K, Aldosary F, Bradwejn JA. A multifaith spiritually based intervention for generalized anxiety disorder: a pilot randomized trial. J Clin Psychol. 2010;66:430–41.
Bormann JE, Gifford AL, Shively M, Smith TL, Redwine L, Kelly A, Becker S, Gershwin M, Bone P, Belding W. Effects of spiritual mantram repetition on HIV outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. J Behav Med. 2006;29:359–76.
Bormann JE, Hurst S, Kelly A. Responses to mantram repetition program from veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a qualitative analysis. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(6):769–84. https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0118.
Richards PS, Berrett ME, Hardman RK, Eggett DL. Comparative efficacy of spirituality, cognitive, and emotional support groups for treating eating disorder inpatients. Eat Disord Treat Prev. 2006;14:401–15.
Worthington EL Jr, Hook JN, Davis DE, McDaniel MA. Religion and spirituality. J Clin Psychol In Session. 2011;67:204–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20760.
Williams V. Working with Muslims in counselling – identifying issues and conflicting philosophy. Int J Adv Couns. 2005;27:125–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-005-2258-7.
Pope-Davis DB, Liu WM, Toporek RL, Brittan-Powell CS. What’s missing from multicultural competency research: review, introspection, and recommendations. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2001;7:121–38.
Winton S. Religion in the consulting room. Br J Psychother. 2013;29(3):346–57.
Koenig H, McCullough M, Larson D. Handbook of religion and health. New York: Oxford University Press; 2001.
Delaney HD, Miller WR, Bisonó AM. Religiosity and spirituality among psychologists: a survey of clinician members of the American Psychological Association. Prof Psychol Res Pract. 2007;38(5):538–46.
Bergin AE. Values and religious issues in psychotherapy and mental health. Am Psychol. 1991;46(4):394.
Hage SM, Hopson A, Siegel M, Payton G, DeFanti E. Multicultural training in spirituality: an interdisciplinary review. Couns Values. 2006;50(3):217–34.
Dwyer M. Religion, spirituality, and social work: a quantitative and qualitative study on the behaviors of social workers conducting individual therapy. Smith College Stud Soc Work. 2010;80(2):139–58.
Hoffman L, Cox RH, Ervin-Cox B, Mitchell M. Training issues in spirituality and psychotherapy: a foundational approach. In: Cox RH, Ervin-Cox B, Hoffman L, editors. Spirituality and psychological health. Colorado Springs: Colorado School of Professional Psychology Press; 2005. p. 3–14.
Rosmarin DH, Green D, Pirutinsky S, McKay D. Attitudes toward spirituality/religion among members of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Prof Psychol Res Pract. 2013;44(6):424–33.
Rizzuto A-M. The birth of the living god: a psychoanalytic study. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1979.
Meissner W. Psychoanalysis and religious experience. New Haven: Yale University Press; 1984.
Pargament KI, Mahoney A, Exline JJ, Jones JW, Shafranske EP. From research to practice: toward an applied psychology of religion and spirituality. In: Pargament KI, Mahoney A, Shafranske EP, editors. APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality: volume II. Washington: APA; 2013. p. 3–22.
Gause R, Coholic D. Mindfulness-based practices as a holistic philosophy and method. Curr Sch Hum Serv. 2010;9(2):1–23.
Cantor G. Book review of the hidden Freud: his Hassidic roots. Psychodyn Pract. 2016;22(2):196–200.
Hathaway WL, Scott SY, Garver SA. Assessing religious/spiritual functioning: a neglected domain in clinical practice? Prof Psychol Res Pract. 2004;35(1):97.
Fingarette H. The self in transformation: psychoanalysis, philosophy and the life of the spirit. New York: Harper Torchbooks; 1963.
Bordin ES. The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance. Psychother Theory Res Pract. 1979;16(3):252.
Lovinger RJ. Working with religious issues in therapy. New York: Jason Aronson; 1984.
Hill PC, Pargament KI, Hood RW Jr, McCullough ME, Swyers JP, Larson DB, Zinnbauer BJ. Conceptualizing religion and spirituality: points of commonality, points of departure. J Theory Soc Behav. 2000;30:51–77.
Crossley D. Religious experience within mental illness. Opening the door on research. Br J Psychiatry. 1995;166(3):284–6.
Whitley R. Religious competence as cultural competence. Transcult Psychiatry. 2012;49(2):245–60.
Sanders BG. Christianity after Freud: an interpretation of the Christian experience in the light of psycho-analytic theory. London: Bless; 1949.
Nkomo S, Cox T Jr. Diverse identities in organisations. In: Clegg SR, et al., editors. The handbook of organization studies. London: Sage; 1996. p. 338–56.
Grom B. Religiosität/Spiritualität – eine Ressource für Menschen mit psychischen Problemen? [Religiousness/spirituality – a resource for people with psychological problems?]. Psychotherapeut. 2012;3:94–201.
Petreet JR, Lu FG, Narrow WE. Religious and spiritual issues in psychiatric diagnosis. A research agenda for DSM-V. Arlington: American Psychiatric Association; 2011.
Hodge DR. Spiritually modified cognitive therapy: a review of the literature. Soc Work. 2006;51:157–66. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/51.2.157.
Hook JN, Worthington EL, Davis DE, Jennings DJ II, Gartner AL, Hook JP. Empirically supported religious and spiritual therapies. J Clin Psychol. 2010;66:46–72.
Pargament KI. Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: understanding and addressing the sacred. New York: Guilford; 2007.
Wohl J. Integration of cultural awareness into psychotherapy. Am J Psychother. 1989;43(3):343–55.
Seiden D. The effect of research on practice in cross-cultural behavior therapy: a single case study (You’re the case). Behav Ther. 1999;22:200–1.
Draguns JG. Abnormal behavior patterns across cultures: Implications for counseling and psychotherapy. Int J Intercult Relat. 1997;21:213–48. Special issue: Training global psychologists.
Asnaani A, Hofmann S. Collaboration in culturally responsive therapy: establishing a strong therapeutic alliance across cultural lines. J Clin Psychol. 2012;68(2):187–97.
Lonner WJ, Ibrahim FA. Appraisal and assessment in cross-cultural counseling. In: Pedersen PB, Draguns JG, Lomer WJ, Trimble J, editors. Counseling across cultures. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 1996. p. 293–322.
Bossman DM. Teaching pluralism: values to cross-cultural barriers. In: Kelley ML, editor. Understanding cultural diversity: culture, curriculum, and community in nursing. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett; 2000. p. 55–66.
Gbadegesin S. Bioethics and cultural diversity. In: Kuhse H, Singer P, editors. A companion to bioethics. Oxford: Blackwell; 1998. p. 24–31.
Landrine H. Clinical implications of cultural differences: the referential versus the indexical self. Clin Psychol Rev. 1992;12:401–15.
Tseng WS. Culture and psychotherapy. In: Tseng WS, Streltzer J, editors. Cultural competence in clinical psychiatry. Washington: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2004. p. 181–98.
Chiu RK, Kosinski FA. Chinese cultural collectivism and work-related stress: implications for employment counselors. J Employ Couns. 1995;32(3):98–110.
Pedersen PB. A handbook for developing multicultural awareness. 3rd ed. Alexandria: American Counseling Association; 2000.
Lago C. Race, culture and counselling: the ongoing challenge. 2nd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill; 2006.
Schofield W. Psychotherapy: the purchase of friendship. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall; 1964.
Sundberg N. Cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy: a research overview. In: Marsella AJ, Pedersen PB, editors. Cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy. 2nd ed. New York: Pergamon Press; 1981.
Bhugra D, Becker M. Migration, cultural bereavement and cultural identity. World Psychiatry. 2005;4(1):18–24.
Miovic M, McCarthy M, Badaracco MA, Greenberg W, Fitzmaurice GM, Peteet JR. Domains of discussion in psychotherapy: what do patients really want? Am J Psychother. 2006;60(1):71–86.
Barrett DB, Johnson TM. World Christians database: atheist/nonreligious by country: world Christian trends: William Carey Library; 2007. http://www.worldchristiandatabase.org/wcd.
Suggested Readings
Kareem J. Intercultural therapy: themes, interpretations and practice. London: Blackwell; 1999.
Koenig H. Handbook of religion and health: a century of research reviewed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2001.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Racin, L., Dein, S. (2020). Religion and Spirituality in Intercultural Therapy. In: Schouler-Ocak, M., Kastrup, M. (eds) Intercultural Psychotherapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24082-0_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24082-0_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-24081-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-24082-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)