| |
- Religion, What Should a Therapist Do?
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Feb 6th 2012 - Some "Views" of Everyday Life
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Feb 4th 2012 - Being Obsessive, Do You Second Guess Yourself?
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 31st 2012 - The Importance of Saying "No"
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 30th 2012 - Infidelity, Can A Marriage Be Mended?
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 24th 2012 - Marriage and Infidelity
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 23rd 2012 - Why Do Couples Divorce?
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 20th 2012 - Divorce and Remarriage, the Blending of Families
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 17th 2012 - Why do People Marry?
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 16th 2012 - Sex, Marriage and Aging
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Jan 12th 2012
View Full Archive |
|
|
Religion, What Should a Therapist Do?
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.: Mon, Feb 6th 2012 According to an article in The New York Times, Julea Ward, a teacher and an Evangelical Christian, was studying for a master’s degree in counseling at Eastern Michigan University. As part of her training, she was required to treat clients as part of her training. She asked that any client who was in a homosexual relationship be referred to another student counselor. She stated that, as a result of her religious beliefs, homosexual acts are unacceptable and that she would it would be better for her to not treat them. Soon after, a gay client was referred to another counselor. and Ms. Ward was expelled from the university.
The question that is raised by this case is, should a counselor’s or psychotherapist's religious convictions bar her from the profession?
There are other, similar scenarios that raise the same question. For instance, should a religious therapist see someone who wants an abortion, is thinking about a divorce, is having premarital sex, or is married and having an extra marital affair?
The American Civil Liberties Union supported the university in firing Ms. Ward because, in their opinion, a counselor who cannot work with a client for any of these reasons, has an unworkable view of counseling and should not be in the profession.
On the other hand, Ms. Ward's lawyer argued that she was not asking to change her clients' way of life, just that she not be changed herself.
In another case, a student was dismissed from school because of her stated intent on telling gay clients that homosexuality was wrong.
Discussion:
An essential part of being a therapist or counselor is objectivity. That means that being judgmental and giving advice have no place when working with clients. In point of fact, it is the job of a therapist to help clients make their own choices and develop their own beliefs and values about every aspect of their lives. Whether or not a therapist is Evangelical, Catholic, Muslim or Orthodox Jewish, it should make no difference when it comes to carrying out their professional duties in relation to clients who are in the office to seek help. The very fact that a person is feeling vulnerable when they seek professional help means that they are not to be taken advantage of in any way.
However, in the real world, things are often not as we wish. Despite their best efforts, therapist can and do find themselves making judgments and having opinions about clients that are not helpful. That is why it is expected that these professionals be guided by supervisors and enter psychotherapy, just for the purpose of working out their issues with certain clients in order that they do not allow their personal feelings to affect the progress of their patients.
The problem is that there are those therapists who do not seek guidance from supervisors and attempt to hide their views from clients. There are also those who attempt to influence clients despite the fact that they should not. There are even those, unlike Ms. Ward, who keep secret their views so that they can enter the field without obstacles. Actually, I believe Ms. Ward should be applauded for her honesty. In addition, unlike in the other case, she never said she had any intention of converting anyone.
What kind of therapist do you want? Don't you want he kind who lets you know their convictions at the outset so that you can make your own decision to stay or not? It seems to me that, in dismissing Ms. Ward and others like her, we run the risk promoting dishonesty when people in training feel they have to hide their beliefs for fear of being barred from the profession. Therefore, why not promote honesty by accepting Ms. Ward and referring to her only those with whom she feels comfortable? By dismissing her, isn't true that we are punishing her for being honest?
What do you think?
Your comments and opinions are encouraged.
Allan N. Schwartz, PhD Not in the right job - - Feb 8th 2012
If a therapist is going to refuse to treat people who commit "unacceptable acts" based on their religious beliefs, why single out homosexuals?
Would this therapist treat people who had been unfaithful to their spouses? How about people who cheat on tax returns or commit white-collar crime? What if the person has assaulted someone? Beat their child? Attempted suicide? Had an abortion? Had premarital sex? Used drugs? Wouldn't all of these things also violate the religious therapist's sense of right and wrong?
Seems to me that it's more about homophobia in particular than about religious beliefs. Therapists need to be able to suspend their own beliefs and judgments to be effective. Not about the therapist - - Feb 8th 2012
It's not about Christianity per se. Plenty of Christian therapists and individuals have no problem with homosexuality. There is plenty in the Bible that is not taken literally; only it is fashionable to hate gays so that issue gets more press than, say, shellfish or wearing garments of mixed cloth, or even women teaching men, which was expressly forbidden by Paul in the New Testament. So if Ms. Ward is being truly consistent with her beliefs, she must also refuse to see male clients since according to her own convictions she is to be silent in their presence.
This is why I would not want a therapist bringing his own convictions into the therapy relationship. It should be about the patient's convictions, problems, and needs. Otherwise there is no difference between a therapeutic relationship and a mere advisory role or friendship, in which case the exchange of money is a little weird. If Ms. Ward and others like her are unable to have a conversation outside of their narrow viewpoint, then they should not be in the profession. Perhaps pastoral counseling would be a better fit for this type of individual. Props for honesty - MMR - Feb 7th 2012
I don't think her being honest should matter especially since if she was really being honest she wouldn't be trying to enter a profession where being non judgemental is key. She is entitled to believe whatever she likes but would be much better off looking into a field where narrow mindness is OK and that she can't possibly hurt further already hurting people. religion - masyh - Feb 6th 2012
everyone who cant take a patient because of his or her lifestyle, has not understood the real meaning of psychology. in psychology its clear that every aspect of behavior has specific envionmental and genetical origins and its stupid to blame someone because fo these factors which he had not chosen himself.
A real therapist must find the origins and try to improve them, regardless of what the problem is, a schizopheniac or a gay.... |
RSS Feed
