Spiritual counseling is the process of identifying a client’s views of the supernatural world and potentially helping him or her chart a path to grow closer to God. I realize that I must respect the views of clients rather than advocate my own Christian views. Therefore, spiritual counseling will look much different depending on my client. With an atheist client, spiritual counseling would entail understanding why the client believes there is no other world than what is seen. With a non-Christian client, the scope can be expanded much more. Though not Christ-centered, the discussion can progress from where the client is today to how the client can grow more spiritual, more centered with God or, in the case of several Eastern religions, with the spiritual realm. It is assisting and potentially guiding a client as the mind descends into the heart (Nouwen, 1975). Spiritual counseling is helping the client discover that deep contentment within oneself which allows the client to view the physical world in proper perspective. Nouwen (1975) calls this receptive solitude. Finally, with a Christian client, Christ’s sacrifice and the full forgiveness of our sins can be interwoven into the client’s spiritual journey.
Nouwen, H. J. M. (1975). Reaching out: The three movements of the spiritual life. New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Image Books.
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