How can you use MI to build trust with a client who is disconnected from their spirituality?

Recognizing that spirituality is indeed a deeply personal and diverse aspect of an individual's life. I disagree with imposing any particular belief or spirituality onto a client during counseling, as it should be a space for them to explore their own beliefs and values. For example, I've seen when a client's sense of spirituality greatly contributed to their resilience and ability to cope with life's challenges, emphasizing the importance of respecting and understanding their unique perspective in the therapeutic process.

I think spirituality needs to be simplified into what I call embodying virtues. others may call these your core values. I make the distinction between thoughts and feelings that are always changing and deep-seated core values that are timeless. and eternal and are arising from our inner heart our Soul. Often times when conflicts arise either internally or externally it is because we choose transitory thoughts and feelings over our values. Supporting others by asking questions and discovering what is truly important for them is authentic spirituality.

Being connected to something bigger than yourself is an idea worth reinforcing because believing/knowing that we are not alone gives us hope and support during difficult times. While people may believe in different religions, most people believe in something- whether they call it G-d or the Universe or Source or anything else. The beauty of MI is that it doesn't make a person wrong. It helps a person evaluate, think and question. And because it is done respectfully, there's room for people to understand why they believe what they do and it opens the door to other possibilites. I remember working with someone who had past negative experiences with church. By her distinguishing church from G-d, she was able to create a new meaning.

Celebrating a client's spirituality and set of values, asking about their moral code is totally in line with MI - where we learn how they expertly pilot their life domains. Recognizing a client's practices such as communing with nature, meditating, journaling, or finding other traditions helps to reinforce client's desires to change. Many clients may feel disconnected or rejected in some social settings because of their spirituality practices, but empowering them to remain strong in themselves will ultimate help foster change.

By exploring the possibility that the client's "spirituality" (i.e. their true sense of who they are) might just be what lies on the other side of their resistance.

My clients often share how other people have influenced their spirituality. Sometimes it is a story of change and growth; sometimes it's a story of harm and doubt. Help starts with reminding them they are only able to change themselves, and if they feel or believe someone made them change, I encourage them through open questions to explore the possibility they changed themselves. I would then encourage them to decide if they want to keep that part of themselves or if they are ready to make another change so their life better reflects their beliefs and spirituality.

People are disconnected for many reasons. They may never have been introduced to religion/spirituality in the first place. If they or someone else was abused by a spiritual person that negatively impacts their association. And if bad things happened to them and they asked G-d for help and it didn't change the situation, they feel forgotten and angry and will turn away from religion and spirituality. It is beautiful to be connected to spirituality, but it is often a slow process even using the respectful tool of MI. And ultimately we must be careful not to push people and we must honor their stance if they are not interested in shifting. I will just hold their well being in my heart.

I have often seen that when a client is disconnected from spirituality it is usually related to a deep emotional wound. Their experience disconnected them from God or a Higher Power because of their belief that God should have intervened and spared them or a loved one from pain. Exploring the experience, beliefs, and the pain, with a safe, compassionate therapist leads to healing and a reconnection to spirituality. Allow them to tell the story without judgement and validate their pain and anger.

I believe this is a touchy area and it requires that the person wants to open the door to change. A person's relationship with their creator or not, is a very personal relationship and it is very different concept than someone who is using drugs that hurts them and runis their lives. Faith in something other than ourselves is a conversation of a different kind. If a person feels hopeless, that can open the door to this conversation. And asking the right questions and offering a non biased approach is, in my opinion the best way to address it.

When a client is disconnected from spirituality, you need to be empathetic,none judgemental and create a safe space for them to feel comfortable sharing.It is important to know that each client is unique and perceive issues differently.Identify the clients goals and values to understand their perspective, also explore if there is any ambivalence that way you can understand the client better. Finally help the client develop a plan that is consistent with their values and goals in order to feel understood, heard and valued.

Again, spirituality is a very different topic than most ways that MI is being used. I think we can be collaborative but there is a fine line that we must respect.

The nature of humanity is to change and adapt to new surroundings and new information. It's important to remind my clients they aren't who they were 3 years ago, and they are becoming something different yet again as they work on themselves. The idea is to embrace the reality of change and adaptation rather than resist it. The right mindset can lead to deeper development and greater growth in all areas of their lives.