The Role of Spirituality in Therapist Self-Care: An Exploration of Students Beliefs and Practices

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which family therapy students used their spiritual and/or religious beliefs as a resource for preventing clinical burnout and in their self-care practices. Additionally, this study sought to explore the specific ways or strategies that students used their spiritual beliefs in their personal and professional lives. Participants were master’s and doctoral students from programs accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE). A total of 341 students participated in the study. The results demonstrated that the majority of students reported that they used their spiritual and/or religious beliefs as an important resource for preventing burnout and for self-care. Additionally, thematic analysis revealed several different themes regarding the specific spiritual practices participants used within their personal and professional lives.