ABSTRACT
This chapter describes and summarizes some important contemporary iterations of humanistic perspectives related to diversity in religion and spirituality. Given convergence and overlap in conceptual frameworks and approaches, humanistic psychology here is considered in a broader, more inclusive sense, including existential–humanistic, transpersonal, and relevant depth psychological concepts. It also considers how these applications of humanistic concepts to spirituality address issues pertaining to mainstream views and how they potentially offer more culturally competent avenues for a richer therapeutic relationship with religiously and spiritually diverse clients. Connections with indigenous psychology and the increasingly concerning issue of cultural misappropriation and the need to decolonize psychology and psychotherapy are addressed—particularly in the context of traditional spiritual healing practices from indigenous cultural contexts. Two case examples (selected from the author’s experience of working with clients with spiritual challenges) are presented to concretely illustrate relevant aspects of this chapter.
