ABSTRACT
Despite the fact that there is currently an energetic movement in the United Kingdom to encourage the inclusion of spirituality in mental health care and therapy, there still seems to be a culture in which the differences between spiritual direction and therapy are considered to outweigh the similarities. Hart also comments that he shares Viktor Frankl's view that religion subsumes and encompasses psychotherapy. This chapter addresses the question: is spiritual direction a modality of therapy? Many clients come into psychotherapy with personal development in mind rather than at a time of distress or psychological upheaval. Hubble, Duncan, and Miller identify their book, The Heart and Soul of Change: What Works in Therapy, as a handbook on the common factors necessary for effective therapy. Frank himself stated: The therapist's ability to help his patient depends partly on his self confidence, and this in turn depends on mastery of a particular conceptual scheme and its accompanying techniques.
