Spirituality in Counselling: A View from the Other Side

Some clients will already be aware of a spiritual dimension when they come to counselling, and others may become aware during the course of it. Counsellors should be able to work with either situation, or should refer the client to a more suitable colleague. Spiritual awareness may develop gradually or be very sudden; the two ways could be likened to 'karma' and 'redemption', and each has particular virtues and difficulties. The author's own experience demonstrates some of the qualities of the sudden, or visionary, way. The interface between the psychological and spiritual dimensions is the natural and obvious next area for exploration and clarification, and counsellors have an important role in this work.