Great Ways Faith-Based Therapy Supports Mental Health
Religion and spirituality have a profound influence on people; 30% of Rhode Islanders consider religion very important to them, and another 30% of people in Rhode Island consider it somewhat important. For these individuals, faith often serves as a primary lens through which they understand and navigate life, and many of these clients want to discuss religion and spirituality with their therapists. However, psychologists often don’t receive training on integrating religion and spirituality into clinical practice. They may not ask about religion and spirituality during intake, and may not incorporate it into treatment.
The solution is a growing therapy method known as faith-based therapy, or spiritually informed therapy. In this blog, we’ll explore what defines a faith-based therapist, who stands to benefit the most from spiritually informed therapy, and how you might benefit from finding a therapist near you who is trained in faith-based therapy.
What Is Faith-Based Therapy?
For many people, spirituality and religion are deeply intertwined with mental health, with research showing spiritual engagement correlates with psychological well-being. In fact, studies suggest therapists who engage with clients’ spirituality may develop stronger therapeutic relationships and improved treatment outcomes.
Faith-based or spiritually informed therapists are equipped to work with clients for whom spirituality or religion are important. Here are a few more specific features of faith-based therapists:
They are respectful and empathetic toward people of all spiritual and religious backgrounds.
They understand how their own biases might color their interpretation of religion and avoid imposing their worldview on others.
They understand how religious practices can help clients recover and support their mental health—and how spirituality and religion can negatively impact mental health for some people.
They are comfortable asking clients about their religious background and helping them explore the benefits and harms of religious identity.
Spiritually informed individual therapy is highly flexible, integrating spirituality and religion into therapy in several ways. Spiritually informed therapists may draw on traditions such as Buddhism when guiding clients through mindfulness-based therapy or can use spiritual healing practices such as Reiki in their work. Faith-based therapy may also integrate clients’ beliefs into therapy. In addition, this type of therapy can more explicitly draw on religion, for example, helping clients use religious teachings to change their perspective. Faith-based therapists may also promote beneficial religious practices such as praying, engaging with a faith-based community, or engaging in forgiveness or gratitude.
Who Benefits from Spiritually Informed Therapy?
To start, it’s important to distinguish between spirituality and religion. Religion often occurs within established institutions; it involves shared practices and beliefs with others. In contrast, spirituality is a broader connection to the sacred, such as a higher power, or also important sources of meaning in life such as nature, relationships, or work. Spiritually informed therapists can work with both people who consider themselves religious and spiritual.
People who find spirituality or religion important to them might benefit from spiritually informed therapy. In fact, spiritually and religiously integrated therapy benefits religious or spiritual clients more than other non-religious therapy methods do. People who are questioning or struggling with their religious or spiritual identities, or who hope to develop those identities, can also benefit from faith-based therapy. Moreover, spiritually informed therapists can counsel people who may have been negatively affected by religion.
Benefits of Spiritually Informed Therapy
1. Promoting Recovery
People with mental health challenges often rely on religion or spirituality for support. Moreover, these challenges may lead questions of spirituality or religion to arise. Integrating faith or spirituality into therapy allows the therapist to address the whole person, leading clients to feel more deeply understood and helping them connect their psychological struggles to their broader life story. For these reasons, faith-based therapy can be a powerful resource for promoting recovery. For example, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy known as religious cognitive behavioral therapy (RCBT) was developed to be compatible with Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim individuals and can benefit people with depression and chronic medical illness. Religiously and spirituality informed therapy can also help people who have experienced trauma.
2. Navigating Religious Trauma
Aside from drawing on the benefits of religion or spirituality, religion can also harm some clients; the harms of religion are sometimes referred to as religious trauma. For instance, some people might experience shame or unpleasant emotions due to religion. Other clients have had religion imposed on them or have experienced abuses of religion (as might occur in the LGBTQ+ community, for example).
A spiritually informed therapist can provide a safe space for clients with religious trauma. This therapist can help clients navigate their relationship to religion and find their answers to big questions about life. For instance, they can help clients navigate their relationships with God or a higher power, or connect with emotions that may have been suppressed in their religious context.
Conclusion
For many Rhode Islanders—and people everywhere—religion and spirituality are deeply connected to mental health. In faith-based or spiritually informed therapy, clients no longer have to separate their faith from their mental health journey. This approach can promote recovery and help individuals with religious trauma. If your spirituality or faith is a major part of your life, finding a trained psychologist with experience in faith-based therapy can be an important step on the path to healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does faith-based therapy mean my therapist will share my religion?
Not necessarily. A true spiritually informed therapist is trained to be respectful and empathetic toward people of all spiritual and religious backgrounds. While some therapists specialize in a specific faith (e.g., Christian counseling), a general faith-based approach focuses on integrating your beliefs and practices into treatment, not imposing the therapist's own.
Is faith-based therapy only for people who are highly religious?
No. Faith-based therapy can benefit anyone who finds spirituality, meaning, or connection important—whether that connection is to an organized religion, nature, personal values, or a higher power. It’s also helpful for those who are questioning their faith or those who have experienced religious trauma.
How do I find a therapist trained in faith-based therapy near me?
Search for therapists who describe themselves as having experience in spiritually informed or faith-based approaches. For example, in Providence, Rhode Island, several members of Dyad Psychology’s talented team can support your spiritual or religious journey. Contact us for more information or to set up a free initial consultation!