ABSTRACT
Client culture is the “lens” through which their world is created and managed. Conceptualizations of spirituality and religion are unique to the individual’s worldview within this system. The counselor’s challenge is in understanding how the client defines those unique systems for themselves and determining the impact of this on their personal functioning. This chapter defines aspects of spirituality and religion and provides counselors with guidelines in terms of understanding how these concepts can shape the client’s individual worldview. Further, assessment strategies are keys to gaining this knowledge and are described. The authors discuss religions as belief systems in terms of a continuum of open and closed, and the impact on client well-being.
