Providing guidance on the health effects of religious/spiritual involvement: a national assessment of university counseling professionals.
This study assessed the perceptions and practices of a national sample of university counseling professionals (n = 306) regarding their provision of guidance on the health effects of religious/spiritual involvement. Relatively few (21%) discussed the physical health effects of religiosity/spirituality with their clients. The majority (52%) were unsure that such discussions would result in lower health risks; however, nearly half (48%) indicated that these would promote recovery. Almost two-thirds (64%) indicated that discussions of religious/spiritual involvement and health "should occur only with clients who indicate that religion/spirituality is important to them." A plurality (36%) of the respondents had received no formal training on this topic. Implications for clinical training, university counseling centers, and future research are discussed.
Mrdjenovich
Adam J
AJ
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA. adam.mrdjenovich@utoledo.edu
Dake
Joseph A
JA
Price
James H
JH
Jordan
Timothy R
TR
Brockmyer
Jeanne H
JH
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D029181:Spirituality; D014495:Universities