An aspiration Let us be a little humble; let us assume that the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SERT Groups: Relational training for spirituality in psychotherapy

David Rupert, Psy.D. S arah H. Moon, Psy.D. The Danielsen Institute at Boston University

An aspiration

“ Let us be a little humble; let us assume that the truth does not lie entirely with us.”

Jawaharlal Nehru

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S ERT – a broad lens

u Spirituality: what is sacred (revered) or of ultimate

concern, and how we relat e to the sacred/ ultimate

u Existential concerns: great questions and challenges

presented by life

u Religion as organized and/ or communal traditions of

spirituality

u Theology – spiritual and religious systems of thought,

including comparative and critical perspectives, and

• ther systems of thought and meaning making such as

philosophical perspectives or cultural traditions (the embedded P & C).

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Five Principles for spirituality in psychotherapy

1) At t ending t o S ERT fact ors (oft en) mat t ers 2) S ERT is complex and dynamic 3) Relat ionships and relat ional fact ors are crit ical 4) Engaging diversit y is crit ical 5) At t ending t o your own S ERT life/ frame is crit ical

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S elected research on S ERT in psychotherapy and clinical training

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Religion & spirituality is culturally relevant for many in the U.S. (Pew Research Center, 2015).

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Many people turn to religion or spirituality in times of stress/distress, and it often helps (Pargament, et al. 2005; Pargament, Exline, & Jones, 2013).

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Many expressions of spirituality are associated with mental health benefits, and other expressions are associated with mental health problems (Koenig, King, and Carson, 2012)

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Spirituality and religion often get relatively little attention, along with age and disability, in diversity/clinical training (Vogel, McMinn, Peterson, & Gathercoal, 2013)

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SERT Groups

S ERT Groups are small groups designed to cultivate competence with spirituality in psychotherapy. S ERT Groups utilize relationships and interaction around S ERT topics to promote professional growth and learning.

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Basic Structure & Composition of SERT Groups

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S mall groups

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Weekly meetings

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Non-evaluative

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Composition: Mixed leadership, diverse, ensure allies

S ERT Group Topics

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The group discussed police shootings and related protests. Members shared personal reactions and perspectives from their S ERT frame/ communities, and discussed how they were engaging social j ustice in clinical practice.

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After hearing about a client with a painful history who tends to see the world as cold, cruel, and threatening, the group discussed their own experiences and perspectives on bearing and recovering from great suffering.

S ERT Group Topics

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A member from a conservative religious tradition talked about their clinical work with a gay married couple, which

• pened up a dialogue about values and religious beliefs in

relation to professional identity, ethical practice, and engaging diverse clients in ways that promote the clients' healing and growth

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A person shared some perspectives and practices related to forgiveness from their religious tradition, and the group discussed forgiveness from various personal and clinical perspectives, including ways forgiveness might (or might not) be helpful, and how a therapist might facilitate forgiveness. This led to a follow-up session exploring similarities and differences on interpersonal forgiveness across maj or religious traditions.

Training goals, methods, & desired impacts for S ERT Groups

Training Goal/Competence Method/design of SERT Group Desired clinical impact/outcome

Cult ivat e facilit at ing at t it udes & capacit ies Engaging difficult , complex t opics; observing ot hers; learning from int eract ions. Client engages more as t herapist appears more

• pen, humble, respect ful,

different iat ed. Increase knowledge & perspect ive on S ERT Encount ering difference; new informat ion and resources; discussion and reflect ion Client engages more as t herapist shows great er awareness, comfort wit h domain.

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Training goals, methods, & desired impacts for S ERT Groups (p. 2)

Goal/competenc e Method/design of SERT Group Desired clinical outcomes

Develop bet t er S ERT int ervent ions Pract icing t he conversat ion; learning from examples and st ories; reflect ing t oget her. Client benefit s from a broader repert oire, more nuanced skills, st ances, and int ervent ions. Increase support and account abilit y Discussion of dilemmas; st ret ched by differences and feedback; encouraged by being heard and recognized. Client feels bet t er accompanied as t herapist is more grounded, present , reflect ive.

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Principles for facilitators in SERT Group

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Cont ain problems but ot herwise facilit at e group decision-making

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Go first in being vulnerable and sharing personal (not privat e) mat erial.

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Act ively name diversit y and power, and engage differences/ t ensions.

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S elf-manage, e.g., engage, avoid t aking up t oo much space, avoid being react ive or crit ical, init iat e repair, re-cent er if flooded, assist each ot her.

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Help t he group refocus if t he conversat ion drift s or lags.

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Wat ch for inj uries or marginalizat ion, and support wit hout sanit izing.

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S peak t o imbalances and omissions.

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Resources on S ERT Groups

Conceptual paper and overview

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David Rupert, S arah H. Moon & S teven J. S andage (2018): Clinical training groups for spirituality and religion in psychotherapy, Journal of S pirit ualit y in Ment al Healt h, DOI: 10.1080/ 19349637.2018.1465879 To link to this article: https:/ / doi.org/ 10.1080/ 19349637.2018.1465879 SERT videos https:/ / www.youtube.com/ playlist? list=PLvyDUx3aRXqS lS iK_ BaMQ0c2kU9eDGsGi The Pluralism Project pluralism.org

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