Ising, James (2014) Australian Psychotherapists and Counsellors Background Beliefs and Activities: Influence on Theoretical Orientation and Practice. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
A recent workforce survey of Australian counsellors and psychotherapists found that up the three quarters were raised in a Christian faith tradition, and that while outward religious practices had diminished over time, a majority engaged in more inward spiritual practices (Schofield & Roedel, 2012). While psychotherapy and counselling have been well researched, less is known about therapist personal factors which may exert an influence on the process of psychotherapy or the therapeutic alliance. To gain an understanding of the influence of religious and spiritual factors on therapist development and training, and the effects of these factors on the theoretical orientation and the processes and outcomes of therapy, the current study was undertaken. As little is known in this area in Australia, an exploratory study was employed using a method that allowed participants to identify important aspects of their experiences from their own perspective. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA, Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009) was used to analyse data from four semi-structured interviews with individuals that were clinical registrants of their own member organisation and PACFA, and who were interested in religious and spiritual aspects of their practice as therapists. The analysis produced five superordinate themes: therapists’ development, training and integration, relationship of faith and theory, beliefs as values guiding practice, and impacts of beliefs on therapy. Analysis of results revealed that therapists progressed through stages of faith, that religious framework affected preferred theoretical model, faith assisted in client engagement and increased multicultural competence, spiritual practices were a protective factor against vicarious trauma and stress.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Heather Warfield |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Oct 2025 04:37 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Oct 2025 04:37 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); religious; spiritual; religiosity; spirituality; psychotherapist; counsellor; Australian; orientation; practice; |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52438 |
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