Abstract
For Americans in the new Millennium, there is a revival of interest in spiritual matters. Simultaneously, attention to spirituality in the social work profession is a cutting edge theme. Social work has a holistic focus on person-in-environment, acknowledging the psychological, emotional, physical and social aspects of the individual. The spiritual is also a defining aspect of each individual. Bidden or unbidden, therapists are confronted daily with the manifestations of the spiritual yearning of their clients while also being confronted with their own spiritual attitudes. The endeavor to understand the human dilemma must include the spiritual dimensions of both therapist and client. This article defines the author's therapeutic attitude as it is informed by social work training, personal life experience, and spiritual religious beliefs. Several case examples are included.
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Epple, D.M. Encounter with Soul. Clinical Social Work Journal 31, 173–188 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022914427911
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022914427911