Could a psychologist's religious faith, or lack thereof, help or hinder their ability to help people?

Question

I'm a psychology student with aspirations to become a clinical or counseling psychologist. Faith wise, I'm an agnostic, and religion doesn't really play any role in my thinking or decision making. I've been told that my lack of faith might hinder my ability to empathize with clients, since most people do hold some type of theistic faith. But I've also been told that faith shouldn't play a role at all or could even hinder one's objectivity. Don't really know which side to believe. What do you think?

Answer 1

If you can experience the difference between being spiritual and being just religious, then , if by choice, if you can be spiritual, then you can excel in psychology, else, even being religious may hinder if the patient belongs to a different religion, or atheism !

Answer 2

I think the biggest thing is for you to be aware of bias you hold. Once you recognize them, you can begin to work to not let them impact your work as much.

The bottom line is that if you don't feel you can help someone b/c you are not qualified or feel your personal views will prevent you from helping them, then refer them to a therapist who can. You can't do this with every patient though. And so if it becomes a common occurence you may want to enter your own therapy to work through this issue.

Faith is huge in many people's lives, especially those who are suffering. You don't have to hold their same beliefs to help them. No matter what orientation you find yourself pulled to (Cognitive Behaviorial, Psychodynamic, etc) there are core skills that will make you a successful therapist- empathy, warmth, objectivity, etc.

The other thing to keep in mind is that until you are in session and dealing with this issue, you may not figure out what is going to work for you and your clients. Just remember to seek out consultation when you do have these sort of religious issues come up. Every therapist has their own baises towards different things. Yours just happens to be religion. Most people are disgusted by child abusers, but we will likely still encounter them in our work. That is a bias and through experience therapists' learn how to deal with that or accept that that is not a population that can work with.

Anyway, good luck in your studies!!

Answer 3

Faith tends to be very helpful for those who are mentally ill. But I don't think you need to share their faith at all. I think that you could tell them that if they think it would help, faith has been shown to really help those in your patient's situation. But it is ultimately up to them. You need to listen to them and respect their faith, but you don't need to share it. I think in a way it may be better that you are agnostic because you aren't set on one thing and you are open minded to all kinds of things. I think being a devout christian/muslim/jew/whatever would get more in the way than being agnostic. Your faith shouldn't be an issue in therapy anyhow unless you are the patient. I can't think of one situation where it would be appropriate for you to share your personal faith with a client. But that's a personal opinion.

Once you get further in your career you will form your own opinion on this. It's one of those things that there isn't a hard steadfast rule. It is just whatever you are comfortable with. Your style will end up working with some patients and not working with others.

Answer 4

No--psychology is a SCIENCE and should be seperated from religion anyways. You might get people in though that have some religious issues--when confronted with that, refer them to the nearest church, mosque or whatever.

I'm going to be a doctor. It will be very interesting to see what I come up with to tell my terminal patients and their families, but I most definately won't be bringing any of my personal religious thoughts into it. I'm agnostic, as well.

Answer 5

It depends on the place that you're working with. Is it a secular place? If it is, then you really should not be mixing faith with your profession. However, if you are working in a Christian organisation, it would be likely that they'd want you to be a Christian (or whatever faith the organisation is under) before they'd employ you anyway.

Personally, I believe that psychology can only do so much. You need faith to do the rest.

Answer 6

I don't think your lack of faith will hinder anything. I think it's great that you can be objective. For those who tell you otherwise, ask them what religion you can choose to be empathetic and objective for EVERY religion.

Answer 7

I say absolutely. Maybe you should at least try to understand both sides. That's touchy some emotional problems are caused by feelings of guilt re: religion.