Clients' experience of the therapeutic relationship and a counselor's way of being on the resolution of religious and spiritual struggles: A hermeneuctical phenomenological study

Abstract

Unaddressed religious and spiritual struggle (r/s struggle) can lead to poor mental and physical health, making identifying the pathways individuals take towards growth of great importance (Exline, 2013). To date, research has not illuminated how counseling influences these growth pathways. In an effort to address this gap, this hermeneutical phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of four individuals who sought counseling to address their r/s struggles, focusing on how the therapeutic relationship and the counselor¿s way of being influenced growth pathways, as these therapeutic factors are most predictive of positive outcome (Fife et al., 2014). Findings reveal that the person of the therapist, their way of being ¿with¿ the participants¿as companion, navigator, and champion¿created a therapeutic environment that allowed participants to reconnect with God, reconstruct more helpful belief systems, and re-engage in faith practices and communities. The researcher highlights these growth pathways and elaborates on clinical implications.