ASERVIC Competencies Series: Competency Seven

The professional counselor responds to client communications about spirituality and/or religion with acceptance and sensitivity.

For more information on the ASERVIC Spiritual Competencies, visit the ASERVIC Website.

Visit these websites for more information on the American Counseling Association or the Virginia Counselor’s Association.

Competency Seven

This week’s ASERVIC competency, Competency Seven, focuses on the client-counselor exchange within the counseling setting. As with other topics of concern to our clients, when clients wish to discuss topics regarding religion and spirituality, counseling professionals demonstrate unconditional positive regard and empathy.

“…responds…with acceptance and sensitivity…“

ASERVIC Competency Seven

As counseling professionals, we know that clients can be affected by their beliefs and experiences surrounding religion and spirituality, and must acknowledge that these items can affect their mental health and wellbeing. In the same way we talk with clients about their family systems, automatic thoughts, or coping skills, we can allow them to talk openly about their religion and spirituality.

The counseling professionals’ understanding of the importance of religion and spirituality in the lives of our clients helps shape our engagement and response. We know that the clients’ religion and spirituality can be integral to their counseling outcomes. Therefore, we must respond in kind.

Regardless of the client’s expression of religion and spirituality, the counselor must provide the respect and empathy they deserve as a human being.

Working with Clients

Our clients must feel able to talk about their religion and spirituality opening and without fear of retaliation or judgment. Often, the best way to demonstrate to a client that the counseling office is a safe place is to demonstrate this through discussion in other topics.

<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">When you as a counseling professional respond with sensitivity and acceptance to other important aspects of your clients' lives, the client will be more likely to share openly about their religion and spirituality. Your response in these moments is critical in empowering the client to discuss these topics within the counseling session, but also in the real world. When you as a counseling professional respond with sensitivity and acceptance to other important aspects of your clients’ lives, the client will be more likely to share openly about their religion and spirituality. Your response in these moments is critical in empowering the client to discuss these topics within the counseling session, but also in the real world.

Your intentional choice to engage in acceptance and sensitivity, rather than judgment or fear, can help promote positive outcomes in your clients.

What Steps Have You Taken?

What opportunities have you pursued to meet ASERVIC Competency Seven?

• Can you think of a time when you’ve responded with sensitivity and acceptance when a client discussed his or her religion and spirituality?
• In what ways might you improve your responses or asses your own biases with clients who might believe differently than you?

If not, check out some of these resources from the American Counseling Association or get involved with ASERVIC or VA-ASERVIC via membership and events.

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