The integration of sacred texts into counseling raises important ethical considerations that practitioners must navigate carefully. Sacred texts, such as the Bible, the Quran, or the Bhagavad Gita, hold profound significance for many individuals. When counselors incorporate these texts into therapy, they must ensure that their approach aligns with the client’s beliefs and values, fostering a respectful and inclusive environment. 

Counselors must strive for cultural competence, actively listening to clients’ perspectives and using sacred texts as a supportive tool rather than a prescriptive guide. Additionally, ethical guidelines encourage practitioners to maintain boundaries, ensuring that spiritual integration does not overshadow psychological principles. Ultimately, the thoughtful integration of sacred texts can enrich the counseling process, providing clients with spiritual support. By prioritizing ethical standards, counselors can navigate this complex terrain, enhancing their practice while honoring the diverse beliefs of those they serve.

Upon completion of this training participants will be able to:

• Describe the clinical basis for integrating the use of sacred texts into psychotherapy
• What makes something a sacred text
• Sacred texts from different traditions
• Explain how to ethically introduce and utilize sacred texts in counseling
• The importance of conducting a spiritual/religious inventory during intake
• Different ways to use a spiritual text
• Utilize sacred texts in a way that ethically maintains clinical boundaries
• Defining healthy clinical boundaries

Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.

For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 1.5 hours of Ethics continuing education training.

Course Instructor: Dreya Blume, LCSW

Recording Date: 03/28/2025