I am in the addiction education field - teaching students who want to be drug and alcohol counselors. Lately I have noticed an increase in students who have strong beliefs that anyone who does not recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior will not be saved, i.e. going to Hell. My dilemma is that when a student refuses to participate in an activity or does not allow themselves to enter into a critical analysis without using their religious beliefs as a "get out of jail free' card. As a professor/therapist I don't know how to navigate my way around this issue...How can these students want to work with addicts/alcoholics who have lifestyles (for the most part) that are diametrically opposed to the Christian tenets? How can a 'counselor' be accepting and open-minded when their client may have other religious/spiritual beliefs? Can they really keep an open mind and open heart and believe the person they are counseling is damned. Faith based institutions are a solution- but not in this case
2006-09-12 10:48:04 · 8 answers · asked by docprism 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many of them are probably getting into the field to do their "duty" of converting the heathens. If they are not able to put this single-minded "cure" aside and truly try to help the people, they are in the wrong field and need to be told so. They should concentrate on becoming pastors or other positions in church organizations that offer this assistance. The only success will be for those open to it, and they could make matters worse by using their position as "counselor" to shove their version of religion down people's throats.
2006-09-12 10:55:09 · answer #1 · answered by ADF 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mm, wow that IS a toughie! Personally, I think that everyone has the right to choose whether they are religious or not just as they have the right to embark on a chosen profession. But surely, if they are in training to be a counselor, they have to be told that to judge their client based on their own religious beliefs is completely unacceptable and they should be failed at the end of their training if they insist on doing so.
My husband has been through counseling and it really helped him, but I can honestly say if his counselor had tried to push their religious beliefs upon him in even the smallest way or even used their beliefs to judge him at all, then it would have been a complete waste of time and done no good at all.
The truth is that these people are incapable of being open minded and accepting, if what they are faced with opposes their beliefs and as such have no place in this kind if profession whatsoever.
2006-09-12 17:57:30 · answer #2 · answered by Tatsbabe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Performance should be evaluated based on results, not beliefs or prejudgment.
Some people can use their beliefs in a positive way to help others, others cannot. Each person is unique and must be rated accordingly.
I am an atheist and have no problem with people who use their beliefs or faith in a positive manner. Counseling is a very tricky business and anything that works (within reason) should be used.
2006-09-12 17:55:53 · answer #3 · answered by Left the building 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religion isn't an answer for the addicted and anyone who trys the faith based indoctrination generally fails themselves as counselors and their clients as addicts. It is imperative to keep religious belief out of the equation when working with addiction. PEACE!
2006-09-12 18:11:55 · answer #4 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't let them be that kind of counselor.
If someone is addicted to drugs or something the last thing he should hear when he's trying to recover is someone else's belief that he's going to hell for what he's done.
You need to be open and accepting to really do that job well and if they can't do it then you shouldn't try and train them to do the job.
2006-09-12 17:51:02 · answer #5 · answered by micky_baxter 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have found a real problem. My reaction would be to disenroll anyone who insists on putting a religious spin on the subject -- to give good counsel in such case is clearly not possible.
2006-09-12 17:51:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
unless they can seperate their religious beliefs from the work they are doing .. they are going into the wrong profession unless .. they wish to work with Christian addicts ..
in which case they should recieve training from another source
2006-09-12 17:53:02 · answer #7 · answered by Peace 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why not leave religion out of the "equation"?
2006-09-12 17:51:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋