Author(s): Jamila Mastny, Maddie Garrett, Rhonda Harris, Samantha Heder, Indra Lokatama, Jordan Robertson, Shannon Stuebs, Javiera Troncoso, Rosemay Webster, Heidi Vogeler
Mentor(s): Timothy B. Smith
Institution BYU
Psychology and religion are interrelated and highly relevant to wellbeing. However, religion differs significantly from psychology in its historical connotation, approach, and values. As such, the two are often viewed as distinct disciplines, incapable of synthesis. Considerations regarding religious diversity and spiritual practice are not well integrated into therapeutic professional norms. Furthermore, psychotherapists hesitate to address client religious beliefs or integrate spiritual practices into treatment, on the misguided presumption that doing so may be unethical or harmful. Therefore, values conflicts and ethical dilemmas occur frequently when religiosity arises in psychotherapy. Interestingly, our review found no ethical codes advising against religious integration into psychotherapy. In fact, religion is highly relevant to many mental health treatments and client situations. From this context, uncertainty regarding ethically addressing client religiosity remains prominent among psychotherapists. To overcome such ambiguity, this assessment reviews relevant literature and offers a conceptual model for ethical therapeutic practice. Common values conflicts drawn between the two disciplines, including assignments of meaning and sources of authority, are highlighted. Practices relevant to enhancing therapist competence are explained, including religious diversity education, therapist humility, and revisions to religious intake assessments. Specific methods useful for adapting therapy to align with client religiosity are reviewed. Some of these methods include updating professional norms and including religious practices in psychotherapy sessions. And, most importantly, a framework for addressing religious topics and values conflicts in psychotherapy is presented. The model itself is founded on five distinct ethical approaches: virtue ethics, deontology, social contract theory, utilitarianism, and relational/care ethics. While highlighting the overlapping and conflicting emphases of these approaches, the framework proposes that client welfare remains the core consideration in ethical dilemmas. Furthermore, the model seeks to balance client religious beliefs and self-determination with mental health considerations in informing ethical practice. The combined review and integrative framework have important implications pertaining to psychotherapy and client treatment. As the two disciplines are ethically integrated, treatment practices will improve and healing will be sustained.