Development and standardization of a tool for assessing spirituality in families for family-based interventions

By Joseph Thomas

Assessment is critical to the integration of strengths into the therapeutic domain. Spiritual assessment is an important aspect of holistic service provision and can help or lead to the complete understanding of the clients' needs (Gilbert, 2000; Matteson, 2008; Miller, 1999; Pargament, 2007; Richards, & Bergin, 2005; Sperry & Shafranske

• Language: English
• Publisher: tabishahmed
• Release date: Jan 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781805455738

Book preview

Development and Standardization of a Tool for

Assessing Spirituality in Families for

Family-Based Interventions

Joseph Thomas

1

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 2

Review of Literature

Chapter 3

Methods

Chapter 4

Results and Discussion

Chapter 5

Summary and Conclusions

2

Chapter-1

INTRODUCTION

Assessment is critical to the integration of strengths into the therapeutic domain.

Spiritual assessment is an important aspect of holistic service provision and can help or lead to the complete understanding of the clients’ needs (Gilbert, 2000; Matteson, 2008; Miller, 1999; Pargament, 2007; Richards, & Bergin, 2005; Sperry & Shafranske, 2005). By assisting both the counsellor and client in understanding the role of spirituality in the issues that bring the client to counselling it can help in designing treatment, interventions appropriate for resolution of these matters. Marriage and family therapy have come to accept the role of spiritual and religious aspects in the lives of both the client and the therapist. The professional and cultural development that is visible also reiterates the significance of spiritual mapping (Ellison & Levin, 1998).

A person’s interpersonal relations and relationship with God are important in the facilitation of coping, lessening of loneliness, and inspiration of a sense of meaning and purpose. It instills a sense of personal worth and value (Pargament, Koenig, & Perez, 2000; Perry, 1998). The three main religious groups, namely: Hindus, Muslims and Christians have deeply embedded in spiritual traditions. The religious and spiritual practices help in alleviating anxiety, dread, loneliness and ensuring a secure feeling and appreciation (Jacobs, 1992; Pargament, 1997; Perry, 1998; Worthington, Kurusu, McCullough, & Sandage, 1996).

Marriage and family life have become especially precarious resulting in divorce and remarriage, prompting families to break up and recombining with greater complexity. With family forms and cultural values undergoing sea-changes and gender role reversal, no single model fits all (Walsh, 1999).

Everts and Agee (1994), in their study, observed how spirituality and religious devotion play an integral role in the all-round development of the client. The interlinking of

3

the mental, physical, social and spiritual dimensions of an individual is rather complex. The mental health professionals are becoming aware of understanding all the aspects of a client’s life and the significance of suitable tools which are essential to assess and integrate the spiritual dimensions of family therapy.

A person’s interpersonal relations and relationship with God are important in the facilitation of coping, lessening of loneliness, and inspiration of a sense of meaning and purpose. It instils a sense of personal worth and value (Butler & Harper, 1994; Koenig, & Perez, 2000; Pargament, 1997; Perry, 1998). One of the most debated questions among academicians is whether the psychological assessments help in changing someone’s life. Finn and Tonsager (2002) had developed an empirically grounding approach to assessment which works as brief therapy. The psychological tests which are time- honoured can give insights into people’s persistent problems and difficulties. These insights have positive effects on the life of clients. The accumulative results based on the studies of Finn have shown that strategies for testing can help the clients to overcome the problems, grow emotionally, spiritually and improve relationships but not damaging them after hearing the results of the assessment. Finn has developed the seminal works of Dr. Constance Fischer, Duquesne University who first advanced the value of collaborative assessments which he calls as the

‘therapeutic assessment’.

In the therapeutic evaluation, a collaboration between assessor and client begins with clients identifying what questions they need to address, to deal with the present struggle. For example, clients might ask questions like why do clients have trouble keeping relationships?

Why do I become angry? The therapist might then direct the assessment in search of those answers and helps the clients to understand the evaluation findings in useful ways. One of the last steps in proper evaluation is the therapeutic intervention which creates an in Vivo experience related to the main struggle client’s face and works to help clients have a different

4

experience with their problems. By noting the client’s characteristics, the assessor creates self-insight among client. The assessor and the clients explore resistance and obstacles as well as the excitement and hope the new experience offers (Reynolds & Livingston, 2013).

The Indian Context

Families in India are going through rapid transitions. In the traditional family set up women usually took extra effort for the survival of the marriage. They typically take the lead in resolving conflicts and, when they give up, the marriage is over. On the other hand, the situation in the towns and cities is rather complex (Singh, 2004). There is much disillusionment with arranged marriages. Extramarital relationships, lesbian and gay relationships and late marriages are no longer taboo. Equality between the sexes has perhaps caused the increase in the number of divorces and remarriages. Single parent families, working mothers, children getting neglected due to domestic violence and the elderly are all part of this conundrum (Rao, 2014; Singh, 2004).

Given these differences majority of the Indian families whether traditional or modern, practice some religion and spirituality. Family therapy in India as a psycho-social intervention has evolved over the last 60 years to include newer schools of thought and novel interventions. This therapy in India in the 21st century needs to adapt to the socio-cultural, religious and spiritual diversity that typifies India (Varghese, 2014). Religion occupies a central position in Indian culture. Almost all aspects of life have religious connotations and are coloured by religious belief (Arulmani, 2010). A therapist dealing with an Indian family cannot ignore this spiritual dimension. It is the need of the hour that appropriate tools should be used to facilitate spiritual interventions in a desirable manner, for healing and recovery.

Family therapy in India as a psycho-social intervention has evolved over the last 60 years to include newer schools of thought and novel interventions. This therapy in India in the 21st

5

century needs to adapt to the socio-cultural, religious and spiritual diversity that typifies India.

Family spiritual assessment can be done with the understanding that religiosity and spirituality are interwoven with the family and cultural contexts. The goal of assessing spirituality and religion in family therapy is to get an accurate picture of clients orienting system. This kind of an assessment is specific to the life of an individual, at a particular time, when faced with a psychological challenge. Spirituality is unique to itself, yet it can be called distinctive in its relation to religion. Richards and Bergin (2005) recommended assessing spirituality may help therapists:

"Understand their clients’ worldviews and thus increasing the capacity to