The article is aimed at getting familiar with the Western researches of spiritual and religious coping. The main categories, conceptual models and results of the empirical studies in the current research field are overviewed. For the Russian psychological theory this direction of research could serve as an example of a methodologically mature field that could enrich the instruments of studies in the field of psychology of religion and psychology of coping behavior. For the psychological practice it serves as an example of scientifically based look upon the connection between spiritual and religious phenomena and their input in the process of overcoming critical situations. Conclusions are made; future research perspectives and the development of the current field in Russia are discussed.

No abstract

Spiritual and religious beliefs and practices contain an enormous therapeutic potential, which is shown by research held in the West. What prevents therapists from addressing this sphere with their clients? What are the barriers, strategies and conditions of integrating spiritual into psychotherapy? The scientific and empirical foundation of research analyzed in current paper gives an example ofan alternative to unproductive discussions on an abstract level in ideological-confrontational style on the evidence based and scientific level. The positive and negative side of such instrumental and behavioristic approach to spirituality is outlined. A task of generating a whole and methodologically funded model of the process of spiritual coping is beingraised.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 Unported License, permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

No abstract