LE3 .A278 2003

2003

Sumarah, John

Acadia University

Master of Education

Masters

Counselling

Education

The profession of counselling has acknowledged that spirituality is an area of study that requires attention, particularly as spiritual beliefs have an impact on the therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client and thus, in the healing process. Since it is not possible for counsellors to neutralize spiritual beliefs with the objective of offering unbiased counselling, it is important to increase self-awareness of values and beliefs. This qualitative study explores the processes in which three experienced counsellors and the author, a beginning counsellor, left the religious teachings of childhood and developed or acquired different sets of beliefs that serve them as individuals and as counsellors. Their work of counselling is described and the possibility that their spiritual beliefs and practices have undergone changes since they began working as counsellors is explored. Changes were acknowledged; the agnostic who is a realist ever seeking logic, now practises mindfulness meditation; the practising Buddhist has become more thoroughly Buddhist: the agnostic who had been "seeking" has attained a sense of calmness and self-acceptance through her spiritual growth; and the author has become more convinced of the legitimacy of researching and exploring spiritual beliefs in counselling. Through a holistic interpretation, the author reflects on the mysteries of human uniqueness and the profound healing of hearts that are open.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2980