Papers by Dr. Claudia Psaila
BRILL eBooks, Mar 2, 2022
Focus groups are “ideal for exploring people’s talk, experiences, opinions, beliefs, wishes and c... more Focus groups are “ideal for exploring people’s talk, experiences, opinions, beliefs, wishes and concerns” (Kitzinger, 2005: 57) and are increasingly used in a wide range of qualitative research. The dynamics of the focus group method centre on participants providing an audience for each other that encourages a greater variety of communication. Focus groups are not a natural event (Kitzinger, 2004); they are social process involving issues of trust, meaning and interpretation as well as relations of power between group members and between the researcher/facilitator and the group. These concerns informed the design of a series of focus groups undertaken to explore the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy with a group of psychotherapists. The requirement for an evolutionary process rather than a single focus group resulted in the development of a FOST group method. This group method is a blend of a focus group and a study approach. This paper discusses the context and practice of this method that is a spiral and evolutionary process of personal reflection and group interaction over a period of time. Details of different techniques used to stimulate discussion and debate as opposed to consensus seen as one of the limitations of focus groups, will be outlined. Also discussed are ethical considerations relating to potential vulnerability of participants in sharing ideas about spirituality that is both a theoretically complex and deeply personal topic.
Journal for the Study of Spirituality, Nov 1, 2014
Abstract Recent years have seen increased interest in the relationship between spirituality, reli... more Abstract Recent years have seen increased interest in the relationship between spirituality, religion and psychotherapy. Spirituality and religion may provide a lens through which to view one’s relationships and experiences and may be crucial during moments of crises and times of transition. A person’s use of religion and spirituality may be positively linked to her or his functioning and mental health. However, the opposite is also true since clients’ spiritual problems may underlie the issues or concerns that they bring to therapy. Consequently, dealing with spirituality and religion seems an unavoidable reality for the psychotherapist to the extent that some practitioners now regard providing spiritually sensitive therapy as an ethical obligation, particularly within a multicultural context. However, there is no consensus as to a definition of spirituality. Studies have shown that spirituality is a very individual phenomenon and that a person’s definition of spirituality is linked to his or her understanding and experience of life and religion and is further influenced by her or his cultural context. The implication is that this is true to each person in the therapeutic encounter: the psychotherapist and the client. This paper discusses the findings of a study in Malta where the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy was explored from the practitioner’s perspective. The focus is on the mental health practitioners’ understanding and experience of spirituality and religion and the resultant implications for practice.
Routledge eBooks, Apr 7, 2017
The Routledge Handbook of Religion, Spirituality and Social Work, 2017
Recent years have seen an interest in the spiritual dimension of persons’ identity, health and ex... more Recent years have seen an interest in the spiritual dimension of persons’ identity, health and experiences with many claiming that this is essential since we are spiritual beings. In fact, the spiritual dimension of care is being studied in disciplines such as psychology, education, health and social work. Moreover, interest has grown in understanding what contributes to one’s wellbeing. In this chapter, I explore the relationship between spirituality and wellbeing. I begin by understanding the concepts of ‘spirituality’ and ‘religion’ and the relationship between the two. This is followed by a discussion of the concept of ‘wellbeing’. Both spirituality and wellbeing are multidimensional constructs that are difficult to define. However, this chapter explores parallel meanings between spirituality and wellbeing and the potential link between the two. I would argue that one’s wellbeing rests upon one’s spiritual wellbeing such that it is fundamental to one’s overall mental, physical a...
Interest in and recognition of the function of religious and spiritual coping in adjustment to se... more Interest in and recognition of the function of religious and spiritual coping in adjustment to serious illness has been growing. In particular, there has been increasing interest in the importance of understanding and valuing patients' individual spirituality as a function of providing appropriate support, particularly as part of nursing practice. This stems partly from the influence and application of palliative care principles in a range of care settings and not just hospices. Four decades of professional rhetoric have emphasised the importance of care for the 'whole' person in terms of spiritual as well as psychological, physical and social needs, without evaluating its impacts on patients or considering whether this approach is realistic in every case. Professional ideology within palliative care has been dominant in influencing a culture of openness between professional health workers and dying patients in their care, with attention to spiritual needs an increasing ...
Focus groups are “ideal for exploring people’s talk, experiences, opinions, beliefs, wishes and c... more Focus groups are “ideal for exploring people’s talk, experiences, opinions, beliefs, wishes and concerns” (Kitzinger, 2005: 57) and are increasingly used in a wide range of qualitative research. The dynamics of the focus group method centre on participants providing an audience for each other that encourages a greater variety of communication. Focus groups are not a natural event (Kitzinger, 2004); they are social process involving issues of trust, meaning and interpretation as well as relations of power between group members and between the researcher/facilitator and the group. These concerns informed the design of a series of focus groups undertaken to explore the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy with a group of psychotherapists. The requirement for an evolutionary process rather than a single focus group resulted in the development of a FOST group method. This group method is a blend of a focus group and a study approach. This paper discusses the context and practice of this ...
Many in the caring professions consider spirituality to be a fundamental dimension of human exper... more Many in the caring professions consider spirituality to be a fundamental dimension of human experience and identity. Consequently, some claim that this dimension cannot be ignored in disciplines such as psychotherapy that deals with the human being and with human experience. Moreover, the increase in secularisation and the emphasis on the subjective and the personal in people's experience of spirituality and religion, have led to an increased interest in psychotherapy, counselling and other forms of activities and professions that deal more closely with the personal and subjective. Other themes that connect spirituality and psychotherapy include: spirituality is related to a person's mental health; people make meaning which assumes that they are spiritual beings; and spirituality and psychotherapy both involve enlightenment and meaning-making. For some, spirituality is manifest in psychotherapy either because of spiritual concerns that are raised by clients in the psychother...
Journal for the Study of Spirituality
... Jacqueline H Watts, Open University, UK Claudia Psaila, University of Malta ... concerns as p... more ... Jacqueline H Watts, Open University, UK Claudia Psaila, University of Malta ... concerns as part of overall quality of life are being developed by health care practitioners as part of a package of support for people with critical and terminal illness (Randall and Downie, 2006; Watts ...
Journal for the Study of Spirituality, Nov 2014
Recent years have seen increased interest in the relationship between spirituality, religion and ... more Recent years have seen increased interest in the relationship between spirituality, religion and psychotherapy. Spirituality and religion may provide a lens through which to view one’s relationships and experiences and may be crucial during moments of crises and times of transition. A person’s use of religion and spirituality may be positively linked to her or his functioning and mental health. However, the opposite is also true since clients’ spiritual problems may underlie the issues or concerns that they bring to therapy. Consequently, dealing with spirituality and religion seems an unavoidable reality for the psychotherapist to the extent that some practitioners now regard providing spiritually sensitive therapy as an ethical obligation, particularly within a multicultural context. However, there is no consensus as to a definition of spirituality. Studies have shown that spirituality is a very individual phenomenon and that a person’s definition of spirituality is linked to his or her understanding and experience of life and religion and is further influenced by her or his cultural context. The implication is that this is true to each person in the therapeutic encounter: the psychotherapist and the client. This paper discusses the findings of a study in Malta where the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy was explored from the practitioner’s perspective. The focus is on the mental health practitioners’ understanding and experience of spirituality and religion and the resultant implications for practice.
Keywords spirituality, spiritually-integrated psychotherapy, mental health practitioners, religion, spirituality and psychotherapy, Malta
European Journal of Palliative Care, Jan 1, 2010
Conference Presentations by Dr. Claudia Psaila
It is increasingly being acknowledged that spirituality cannot be separated from psychotherapy in... more It is increasingly being acknowledged that spirituality cannot be separated from psychotherapy in the same way that spirituality cannot be differentiated from life since it is interwoven in everyday life (Pargament, 2007). Studies have highlighted a positive relationship between spirituality, religion and client functioning including their physical and psychological health (Koenig 2004; Leach 2009). In this presentation, I discuss the results of a recent qualitative study on the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy. The explorative study focused on the experience and perception of Maltese psychologists and psychotherapists of the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy. The data was collected through using a focus group approach. The findings suggest that spirituality is often considered to be an integral dimension of a person’s identity and experience and as such needs to be acknowledged and addressed in psychotherapy. Both religion and spirituality may, in fact, be considered to be sources of internal strength and support. However, the opposite is also true such that a person’s spirituality may underlie his/her psychological issues. At times, this is linked to a person’s understanding and experience of spirituality and religion. The study points to spirituality as a resource while also being part of the client’s presenting problem either directly or indirectly. Furthermore, this duality may also be true with regards the therapist’s understanding and experience of spirituality and religion with resultant implications for practice.
References:
Koenig, H. G. (2004) ‘Religion, spirituality and medicine: Research findings and implications for clinical practice’, The Southern Medical Association, 97(12), pp. 1194-1200
Leach, M. M., Aten, J. D., Wade, N. G. & Couden Hernandez, B. (2009) ‘Noting the importance of spirituality during the clinical intake’, in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Pargament, K. I. (2007) Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred, London, The Guildford Press
Up to a few years ago, many were resistant to the idea of linking spirituality and religion to ps... more Up to a few years ago, many were resistant to the idea of linking spirituality and religion to psychotherapy for a number of reasons including the historical tension between psychology, psychotherapy and spirituality/religion. However, with time, this reluctance seems to have shifted such that for some, dealing with spiritual and/or religious issues has become not only inevitable but an ethical obligation particularly within a multicultural context (Hathaway and Ripley 2009; Miller 2003; Richards and Bergin 2005; West 2004). Zinnbauer and Barrett (2009: 145) describe this change as a ‘welcome sign of progress’, particularly within the context of past tensions. Therefore, in recent years, the relationship between spirituality and psychotherapy has received scholarly attention. In this paper, I present the findings of a recent qualitative study that focused on understanding the perception and experience of Maltese psychologists and psychotherapists of the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy. The study used a focus group approach and the respondents were selected using purposive sampling. The participants seemed to imply that spirituality was considered to be part and parcel of psychotherapy since both spirituality and psychotherapy shared similar dimensions. This seemed to be based on their understanding of both spirituality and religion and the relationship between these and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy was therefore understood to be imbued with spirituality. However, the participants also seemed to imply that spiritual and/or religious issues needed to be integrated, assessed and dealt with, in the therapeutic endeavour.
References:
Hathaway, W. L. & Ripley, J. S. (2009) Ethical concerns around spirituality and religion in clinical practice, in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Miller, G. (2003) Incorporating spirituality in counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and technique, New Jersey, Wiley & Sons
Richards, P. S. & Bergin, A. E. (2005) A spiritual strategy for counseling and psychotherapy, Washington, American Psychological Association
West, W. (2004) Psychotherapy and spirituality: Crossing the line between therapy and religion, London, Sage Publications
Zinnbauer, B. J. & Barrett, J. J. (2009) ‘Integrating spirituality with clinical practice through treatment planning’ in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Recent years have seen a movement away from reluctance in dealing with the spiritual and religiou... more Recent years have seen a movement away from reluctance in dealing with the spiritual and religious dimensions in psychotherapy to an increased interest in the relationship between spirituality, religion and psychotherapy. An influencing factor has been the acknowledgement of the ‘relative ubiquity of spiritual and religious issues in the human condition’ (Hathaway and Ripley 2009). Consequently, some claim that both spirituality and religion may become visible during moments of crises and times of transition, while also providing a lens through which to view one’s relationships and experiences. The latter are often the focus of therapeutic work. Additionally, clients often draw on spiritual and religious resources in dealing with their issues and concerns. Furthermore, a person’s use of religion and spirituality may be positively linked to his/her functioning and mental health. However, the opposite is also true since clients’ spiritual problems may underlie the issues or concerns that they bring to therapy. Consequently, dealing with spirituality and religion seems an unavoidable reality for the therapist to the extent that some practitioners now regard providing spiritually-sensitive therapy as an ethical obligation particularly within a multicultural context. However, there is no consensus as to the definition of spirituality. Studies have shown that spirituality is a very individual phenomenon and that a person’s definition of spirituality is linked to his/her understanding and experience of life and religion and that this is further influenced by his/her cultural context. The implication is that this is true to each person in the therapeutic encounter: the therapist and the client. This paper discusses the findings of a study where the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy was explored from the practitioner’s perspective. The focus will be on the psychotherapists’ understanding and experience of spirituality and religion and the resultant implications for practice.
Keywords: Spirituality; Spirituality and Psychotherapy; Religion and Psychotherapy; Therapist and spirituality; spiritually-integrated psychotherapy; psychotherapy
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Papers by Dr. Claudia Psaila
Keywords spirituality, spiritually-integrated psychotherapy, mental health practitioners, religion, spirituality and psychotherapy, Malta
Conference Presentations by Dr. Claudia Psaila
References:
Koenig, H. G. (2004) ‘Religion, spirituality and medicine: Research findings and implications for clinical practice’, The Southern Medical Association, 97(12), pp. 1194-1200
Leach, M. M., Aten, J. D., Wade, N. G. & Couden Hernandez, B. (2009) ‘Noting the importance of spirituality during the clinical intake’, in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Pargament, K. I. (2007) Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred, London, The Guildford Press
References:
Hathaway, W. L. & Ripley, J. S. (2009) Ethical concerns around spirituality and religion in clinical practice, in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Miller, G. (2003) Incorporating spirituality in counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and technique, New Jersey, Wiley & Sons
Richards, P. S. & Bergin, A. E. (2005) A spiritual strategy for counseling and psychotherapy, Washington, American Psychological Association
West, W. (2004) Psychotherapy and spirituality: Crossing the line between therapy and religion, London, Sage Publications
Zinnbauer, B. J. & Barrett, J. J. (2009) ‘Integrating spirituality with clinical practice through treatment planning’ in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Keywords: Spirituality; Spirituality and Psychotherapy; Religion and Psychotherapy; Therapist and spirituality; spiritually-integrated psychotherapy; psychotherapy
Keywords spirituality, spiritually-integrated psychotherapy, mental health practitioners, religion, spirituality and psychotherapy, Malta
References:
Koenig, H. G. (2004) ‘Religion, spirituality and medicine: Research findings and implications for clinical practice’, The Southern Medical Association, 97(12), pp. 1194-1200
Leach, M. M., Aten, J. D., Wade, N. G. & Couden Hernandez, B. (2009) ‘Noting the importance of spirituality during the clinical intake’, in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Pargament, K. I. (2007) Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred, London, The Guildford Press
References:
Hathaway, W. L. & Ripley, J. S. (2009) Ethical concerns around spirituality and religion in clinical practice, in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Miller, G. (2003) Incorporating spirituality in counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and technique, New Jersey, Wiley & Sons
Richards, P. S. & Bergin, A. E. (2005) A spiritual strategy for counseling and psychotherapy, Washington, American Psychological Association
West, W. (2004) Psychotherapy and spirituality: Crossing the line between therapy and religion, London, Sage Publications
Zinnbauer, B. J. & Barrett, J. J. (2009) ‘Integrating spirituality with clinical practice through treatment planning’ in Aten, J. D. & Leach, M. M. (Eds.) Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake to termination, Washington, American Psychological Association
Keywords: Spirituality; Spirituality and Psychotherapy; Religion and Psychotherapy; Therapist and spirituality; spiritually-integrated psychotherapy; psychotherapy
The research is a qualitative exploratory study of the experience and perception of the spiritual dimension of psychotherapy of Maltese practitioners. The study was held with two groups of Maltese psychotherapists and clinical and counselling psychologists. Each group attended a series of four focus/study group sessions. Key areas explored include the participants’ conception of spirituality and religion and their understanding and experience of the spiritual dimension in counselling and psychotherapy. Broadly, the study focused on the ways in which spirituality may become manifest and express itself in the psychotherapeutic process, the roles and experiences of the therapist and the client regarding spirituality in counselling and psychotherapy and the identification of the factors that may contribute to the spiritual dimension of counselling and psychotherapy.
The findings are presented as two main domains, that of ‘understanding spirituality and religion in a postmodern context’ and ‘spirituality and psychotherapy’. The latter is divided into four themes that are facets of the domain ‘spirituality and psychotherapy’. These are a) understanding spirituality and religion, b) the therapeutic relationship as sacred space, c) the being: it is who the therapist is that counts and d) applications in clinical practice. The findings are discussed in relation to the literature and to the Maltese context.