Norwegian psychotherapy: religiosity gap and spiritual care competence

Abstract

ABSTRACT Addressing spiritual concerns in psychotherapy might be challenging in secular societies. An additional obstacle may be a possible religiosity gap between psychotherapists and their patients. To explore levels of religiosity and spiritual care competence, the Spiritual Care Competence Questionnaire was given to professionals in Norwegian mental health clinics. 262 staff participated, 92 of them psychologists. Results indicated first, that psychologists were significantly less religious than other professionals. Second, competence scores varied in the lower range for all participants, regardless of profession. Third, psychologists were open toward spiritual topics in principle, but hesitant to address them actively.