Social Work and Spirituality

According to my Generalist Social Work textbook:

"Spiritual beliefs may affect the client’s response to adversity, the coping methods employed, the sources of support available (e.g., the faith community may form a helpful social network), and the array of appropriate interventions available. Particularly when clients have experienced disaster or unimaginable traumas, the exploration of suffering, good and evil, shame and guilt, and forgiveness can be a central part of the change process. Social workers must be aware of their own spiritual journeys and understand the appropriate handling of spiritual content, depending on the setting, focus, and client population involved (Ellor et al., 1999)" (Hepworth et al, 2010, p. 241).

As I have been at my internship, I have been impressed with the way this issue was handled.  Spirituality came up in many conversations with clients, and the client's perspective was always treated with respect.  The therapists always engaged in a strengths-based perspective, in which they encouraged any ways that a person's spirituality seemed to help them cope with difficult situations.  They were never negative or disparaging about a spiritual belief in the client's presence, no matter what their private, personal perspective on that believe happened to be.  They asked good questions that made clients feel comfortable discussing their spiritual beliefs.

In many ways I appreciate this approach.  I would feel very uncomfortable if I went to a therapist and they were negative or critical of my spiritual beliefs.  In fact, I might have doubts about whether that person could be helpful in addressing my presenting issues.  However, what happens if spiritual beliefs seem to be harmful to a client?  How does a social worker make that determination?  I suppose the correct response would be simply to ask questions that would allow the client to determine whether that was the case.  However, even in the asking of questions, can we really deny that we sometimes have an agenda?  The questions we ask can cause a client to think in one direction or another.  Of course, the beauty of questions is that they do not force anything on a client.  But can our personal perspective really be so thoroughly removed from view?  If so, why do Hepworth et al say it is important for us to be aware of our own spiritual journeys?  Only so that we can keep them hidden? 

When it comes to issues of suffering, good and evil, shame and guilt, and forgiveness, things seem to get even more complicated.  Many religions have very strong perspectives on these issues, but those perspectives may or may not lead to positive change.  Within the religion I practice, Christianity, there are many different views on why suffering exists, and God's relation to it.  I have found some of these to be helpful in my own times of struggle, and others to be decidedly hurtful.  Is there any point in which, as social workers, it is appropriate we express an opinion to a client on something like the importance of forgiveness?  Is there any point that we share what has been valuable in our own lives on these topics?  Clearly, I have more questions than answers.

Works Cited:
Hepworth, D.H., Rooney, R.H., Rooney, G.D., Strom-Gottfield, K.  2010.  Direct Social Work Practice Theory and Skills (9th edition).  Delmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.