Developing practice in a context of religious faith: A study of psychotherapists who are Quakers

Abstract

Nineteen Quakers who are also counsellors or psychotherapists were interviewed in a qualitative pkenomenological study about the impact, if any, of their spiritual beliefs on their work. The research was conducted using an approach based on Moustakas' heuristics. The spiritual faith of the therapists impacted on their work in several ways: their sense of their own spiritual journey helped them understand their clients' spiritual journey; their spiritual faith underpinned their work; it gave them something extra, which included inspiration, spiritual preparation before and between therapy sessions, and prayer; and for a minority of respondents there were conflicts which were sometimes expressed in supervision. The implications of these findings are explored in relation to training, supervision, and the secular settings in which these therapists mosdy worked.