Course Description

*This complete Online Course includes a PDF of the book, Perspectives on Spirituality and Religion in Psychotherapy, and the Final Exam. If you have access to the book and want to purchase the Final Exam only, click here.

This program covers many of the different spiritual and religious beliefs your clients may bring to their therapy sessions and demonstrates how these beliefs can be integrated into psychotherapeutic treatment. Topics discussed include addressing religious concerns when using mindfulness in psychotherapy, addressing religious and spiritual concerns with LGBT clients, the impact of beliefs on survivors of traumatic events, understanding African American and Native American spirituality in psychotherapy, the clinical integration of Christianity and psychology, and much more.

18 CE credits/hours, 180 questions

Target Audience

Psychologists | School Psychologists | Marriage & Family Therapists | Mental Health Counselors | Social Workers

Learning Level

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

  • Discuss spiritual and religious issues when working with LGB clients.
  • Recognize the impact of religion and spiritual beliefs on survivors of trauma.
  • Explain how to address religious concerns when using mindfulness in psychotherapy.
  • Present a primer on Buddhist psychology, earth-centered faiths, Yoruban and Dahomey African Diaspora religions, traditional Native American spirituality, European Paganism, African Pentecostalism, and African Americans spirituality.
  • Discuss the integration of psychology and Christianity, and the integration of psychotherapy and Jewish tradition.
  • Recognize critical issues related to the integration of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism and couples therapy.
  • Practice psychotherapy with nonbelievers.

Sections

  1. 1

    • Statement of Understanding (downloadable/printable)
  2. 2

    • PDF Book (downloadable/printable)
  3. 3

    • Final Exam Questions (downloadable/printable)

    • Final Exam
  4. 4

    • Evaluation Questionnaire

About the Authors

Richard W. Sears, PsyD, MBA, ABPP, DMin

Richard W. Sears, PsyD, MBA, ABPP, DMin, is the Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation and a core faculty member of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Union Institute & University.  He is also Clinical/Research faculty at the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, Volunteer Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at the UC College of Medicine, Research/Psychologist Contractor with the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, and Clinical Assistant Professor at Wright State University School of Professional Psychology.  He received his MBA and PsyD from Wright State University, and his Doctorate of Ministry degree in Buddhist Studies from Buddha Dharma University.  Dr. Sears is a board certified clinical psychologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he conducts a small private psychology and consultation practice, specializing in mindfulness-based groups.  He is lead author of five books: Consultation Skills for Mental Health Professionals; Mindfulness in Clinical Practice; Mindfulness: Living through Challenges and Enriching Your Life in This Moment; Competence in Building Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy; and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for PTSD.  Dr. Sears is also a fifth degree black belt in To Shin Do/Ninjutsu.  He once served as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama of Tibet with his teacher, Stephen K. Hayes.  He has studied and practiced mindfulness, meditation, Zen, and other Eastern Wisdom traditions for over 30 years, and has been ordained as a teacher in three traditions.  He received authority to teach koans (inka) from his Zen teacher Paul Wonji Lynch, in the lineage of Seung Sahn.  Dr. Sears’ website is: www.psych-insights.com

Alison Niblick, PsyD

Alison Niblick, PsyD, currently works as an adult outpatient psychologist with low-income and homeless adults at a community mental health agency in northern Kentucky.  Dr. Niblick received her PsyD from Wright State University School of Professional Psychology, and completed BA degrees in psychology and religious studies at Albright College.  Her completed doctoral dissertation is titled “The Impact of Minority Faith on the Experience of Mental Health Services: The Perspectives of Devotees of Earth Religions.”  She also completed her predoctoral internship at The Fremont Community Therapy Project in Seattle under the direction of Dr. Laura S. Brown, where she received training in feminist psychological theory, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).  Dr. Niblick’s clinical and research interests are in issues of diversity, feminist theory, social justice, and psychological trauma, broadly defined.