Working with people with different beliefs can be challenging,
especially for psychological therapists. By definition, every
client holds some beliefs differing from the therapist’s but there
is something particularly daunting about codified cultural and
religious belief systems.
Clients will often seek out therapists of a similar culture or
faith, fearing that an ignorant or antagonistic therapist may
question basic beliefs which they do not wish to examine.
Therapists may also shy away from clients of different cultures
or faiths, fearing that a misunderstanding on their part may upset
or offend the client, possibly even to the level of formal
complaints. Such a lack of confidence does little for rapport.
Whilst therapists cannot know the details of every faith and
culture they might encounter and should think carefully before
attempting to work within frameworks they do not understand, there
is one principle common to almost all belief systems: the Golden
Rule;do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Treat others as you’d like to be treated is a universal
principle. Therapists who avoid working with other faiths and
cultures can be assured that there is common ground to work
from.
The "Golden Rule" of the helping professions speaks to the
necessity for all helping professionals to apply the advice or
direction we give to others to ourselves. It is an ethical mandate
for all helping professionals to "practice what we
preach."
Having familiarity with the client/patient's experience or
knowing what it's like to be "on the other side of the couch" or
"the other side of the stethoscope" creates higher levels of
empathy and consequently higher levels of professionalism.
It is particularly helpful in developing higher degrees of
compassion, understanding and empathy for the clients/patients we
serve, while also increasing our awareness and understanding of
their feelings of vulnerability, anxiety or fear.
The “Golden Rule” is claimed by many different religions. My
personal worldview acknowledges that God’s love is available to all
people, regardless of one’s spiritual worldview. God’s love is
unconditional and universally available. However, our response to
His love is entirely another matter.
A skilled counselor becomes a mirror to the client’s soul, yet
does not manipulate a client into doing something against his or
her will. Neither is a counselor required to change his or her
worldview to match that of his or her client.
This is why it is important to understand one’s personal values
and spiritual beliefs system within the counseling environment. If
a counselor does not master his or her own system of thought,
beliefs and values, it becomes difficult or impossible to help
others master their own. And to expose one’s spirit to an opposing
or antithetical worldview while attempting to heal is
paradoxical.