Citation:
Cashwell, C. (2011). Integrating Spirituality and Religion into Counseling: A Guide to Competent Practice

Category:
Book

Genre: Other

CACREP Core Area:
Human growth and development, Helping relationships

Subject Headings:
Spirituality & Religion

Review:
In 2009, the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) updated their competencies for addressing spiritual and religious issues in counseling. Shortly after, Drs. Craig Cashwell and J. Scott Young (2011) released the second edition of their edited book, Integrating Spirituality and Religion into Counseling: A Guide to Competent Practice, as a practical guide to infusing spirituality and religion proficiently into practice. These editors structured their book to follow and address the ASERVIC competencies. Accordingly, this second edition differs considerably from the first. The updated edition reflects the significant changes in the ASERVIC competencies, and changes both in the book and in the competencies reflect significant advancements in the integration of spirituality and religion into counseling practice. Thus, this book is an extremely helpful tool for counselors seeking guidance on best practices in this area.

Diverse spiritual and religious practices are common in the United States, and spirituality consistently has been shown to be a core component to wellness. Thus, ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence dictate that the counselor should be prepared to address such concerns with a client. A big question for many practitioners is how to integrate spirituality in an ethical way. In response, editors and chapter authors focus on "why” (e.g., "Why is it important to integrate spirituality and religion into counseling work?”) and "how” (e.g., "How can this be done competently and ethically?”).

Throughout this book, various content experts address concerns thoroughly yet concisely and provide recommendations for competent, evidence-based practice. A hallmark of this book is its applied approach. Conceptual frameworks are provided, yet authors focus on real-world application of the material. The book was written with counselors-in-training and beginning counselors in mind. Topics include the ASERVIC competencies, culture and worldview, counselor self-awareness, human and spiritual development, communicating about spirituality, accessing spiritual and religious domains, diagnosis and treatment, mindfulness, ritual, 12-step spirituality, prayer, and divine feminism. In each chapter of this edition, authors included an applied section with case studies that bring spirituality issues to life and allow the reader to translate learning into action. This chapter structure and emphasis on applied practice are fruitful revisions to the first edition.

The editors brought together some of the leading practitioners, researchers, and authors in the application of spirituality and religion into counseling. This results in a robust source of information for the counselor seeking guidance on ethical spirituality practice. The editors were attuned to changes in the profession, so readers will receive the most current, up-to-date best practices. Counselors and counselors-in-training will find this book is of great usefulness for informing their practice, and counselor educators will have a solid text for spirituality and religion pedagogy.

In summary, the editors and authors of this book highlighted that integrating spirituality and religion with clients is appropriate and often necessary. Through the use of this book, counselors will explore appropriate and practical ways to address these issues and optimize their clients’ wellness.