Empirical research on religion and psychotherapeutic processes and outcomes: A 10-year review and research prospectus

Author(s): Kurusu, T. A., Mccullough, M. E., Sandage, S. J.

Journal/Book: Psychol Bull. 1996; 119: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 448-487.

Abstract: A decade of research on religion and counseling, consisting of 148 empirical articles, was reviewed. Methodological sophistication, poor a decade ago, has approached current secular standards, except in outcome research. Religious people cannot be assumed to be mentally unhealthy. Nonreligious and religious counselors share most counseling-relevant values but differ in the value they place on religion. Those religious differences affect clinical judgment and behavior, especially with religious clients. Religious interventions have been techniques imported from formal religious traditions and used as adjuncts to counseling or traditional theories of counseling adapted to religious clients. The authors suggest a research agenda and speculate about future mental health practices.

Note: Review EL Worthington, Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Dept Psychol, Thurston House, 808 W Franklin St, POB 842018, Richmond, VA 23284 USA

Keyword(s): LOW-BACK-PAIN; NEGATIVE LIFE-EVENTS; GOD-HELP-ME; MENTAL-HEALTH; COPING STRATEGIES; COLLEGE-STUDENTS; PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS; COUNSELORS TREATMENT; COMPARATIVE EFFICACY; CLIENTS PERCEPTIONS

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