A Therapy Group on Spiritual Issues for Patients With Chronic Mental Illness

Abstract

The author describes experiences gained over 18 years of conducting a therapy group for chronically ill psychiatric patients that focuses on spiritual beliefs and values. The group is held in a day treatment center and is attended by both men and women, whose ages have ranged from 22 to 60 years. Staff concerns that discussion of religious and spiritual material would foster patients' delusional ideation or strengthen their defenses and be counterproductive to treatment or that patients could not tolerate diverse systems of beliefs have not been borne out. Such groups foster tolerance, self-awareness, and nonpathogenic therapeutic exploration of value systems. Group rules contributing to its success are tolerance of diversity, respect of others' beliefs, a ban on proselytizing, and open membership.

Spiritual and Religious Issues in Psychotherapy with Schizophrenia: Cultural Implications and Implementation

“…The behavioral component of SACBT utilizes exercises in prayer, rituals meditation, and relaxation. Spirituality groups for individuals with mental illness in inpatient and outpatient treatment centers have been also gaining popularity [52,53]. For example, Kehoe [52] reported from her eighteen years of experience that spirituality-based group therapy provided an important venue for people with serious mental illness to explore issues related to religion and spirituality.…”

“…Spirituality groups for individuals with mental illness in inpatient and outpatient treatment centers have been also gaining popularity [52,53]. For example, Kehoe [52] reported from her eighteen years of experience that spirituality-based group therapy provided an important venue for people with serious mental illness to explore issues related to religion and spirituality. Effectively guided by an open-minded and nonjudgmental therapist, the group fostered tolerance, acceptance of alternative viewpoints, and careful examination of belief systems.…”

Integrating Religion and Spirituality into Mental Health Care, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

“…The first therapy group on spiritual issues was started by Nancy Kehoe in 1981 in the department of psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts [43]. She felt the need to provide seriously mentally ill persons with an opportunity to explore religious and spiritual issues in relation to their mental illness.…”

Integration of Spirituality and Religion in the Care of Patients with Severe Mental Disorders

“…In some spiritual groups, patients pray together [22,23], some groups are led by both mental health and religious professionals [22,24], some secular therapies use Buddhist principles [25,26], others are religiously oriented [27,28]. S/R is a very sensitive area; the patient has to be informed of the abovementioned S/R characteristics before any referral.…”