[Butterflies Are Free]

I would like to discuss something with my T - it involves my faith/spirituality.
I have had two previous therapists(many years ago) who were both Christians. My current T was brought up in a Unitarian church and later, as an adult, practiced Buddhism for a while. Her husband is a Christian(I only know this because she once told me that they have agreed to disagree on certain things) and she is aware of my faith. It does not matter to me as long as I can talk to her... The church I am currently attending is not really meeting my needs; I stayed because the choir director(I sing) is a friend of mine, but I just can't do it any longer. So I guess I was wondering how many people discuss their belief system, whatever that may be, with their Ts?

[wotchermuggle]

I mention it sometimes in passing. My therapists have let some info slide about their beliefs on occasion, so I know that we don't share the same beliefs. I've never had any significant discussion about it though - just as a side comment to something else we were talking about.

[Dreamy01]

Yeah I do a lot. It's always quite an interesting subject as my faith incorporates aspects of Christianity, paganism, Buddhism and Hinduism, plus I am a bit psychic! My former T shared a bit about her faith (which was similar to mine and non-traditional) whereas current T hasn't, although I suspect current T has very similar liberal views. It would maybe bother me a bit if I discovered that T was a traditional Christian but only if it was likely to bother her because of what I have experienced and what I believe. My spirituality is important to me and a huge comfort so I need to know I can speak freely with any T about it.

[autotelica]

My agnosticism came up early on. My therapist is Jewish and her husband is a rabbi. But interestingly, he's agnostic and no longer heads up a congregation. She believes in God, but I think she's more into the cultural stuff. I will not be seeing her tomorrow because it's a holiday.

Once, when I told her that I didn't really know what I believed, she said something like, "Well, I don't know how you can look at the beautiful order of things and not see God. Of course there's a God." I usually find this line of reasoning tiring, but because it gave me a glimpse into her personality, I overlooked it.

The other day she said we needed a "come to Jesus" moment over something involving my shrink. I found it hilarious.

[Dreamy01]

Originally Posted by autotelica

The other day she said we needed a "come to Jesus" moment over something involving my shrink. I found it hilarious.

I would have too. I find that sort of thing really off putting especially within my therapy!

[cottonwood]

A person's god-concept seems so foundational I can't imagine such a topic not coming up.

I've read, a person's god-concept is filtered through their earthly parents--for good or for ill. Like some people believe in a loving god because their parents were loving and gentle and some people believe in a thunderbolt throwing, angry deity if they had parents who were abusive (like mine.)

Anyhow it just seems foundational. I can't imagine not getting it sorted out, why you now believe WHAT you believe...

As my faith/beliefs lie in who we are. Then my entire therapy encompasses this. Learning to belief & have faith in myself.

[lostmyway21]

No it's never come up in a year of therapy. Probably because I'm not that religious. I have wonder if he is though.

[cottonwood]

Stupid question:

"What is a T ?"

[bluemountains]

Oddly enough, therapy is the one place that I don't want to discuss my faith. Yes, I will discuss church and what is going on there at times, but faith is something that I work on myself. I don't even know what my t's beliefs are, although she has mentioned God before.
Bluemountains

[skysblue]

Yes, my T is very aware of my beliefs. Her knowing them is integral to helping me with my issues. That she is Buddhist is helpful because she understands meditation and belief systems that use meditation as part of their practice. She is very supportive and helpful and I feel completely free to discuss my feelings about my beliefs. If she were a conservative Christian, I would have much more difficulty opening up to her.

[stopdog]

Only in the context of me growing up. I have no faith or spirituality now aside from a vague agnosticism. She mentions hers every so often because it is different from the one I grew up with and clarification is needed.

[murray]

We have touched on religion a few times. My T is Jewish and I am an atheist. He had no problem with this luckily, which was a concern for me as I didn't want him judging me for my lack of faith. I was raised Catholic so on rare occasion we will discuss interesting things about that.

[healed84]

Yes, we talked about it the first session. We are both christians and I purposley sought out a T that was. Although, his practice does not advertise that they are Christian psychologist, many of the Ts who work there are. So, we talk about it on and off.

[anilam]

Yes sometimes, cause I struggle with it.
I don't want to believe in God (logically I never got over the trilemma of theodicy) but was brought up in a highly religious family and part of me still kind of believes (e.g. when I'm afraid I pray to calm myself down)- and that makes me angry. My T's an atheist but he's open-minded, so no problem there.

We are both christians and talk about our faith frequently.

[Butterflies Are Free]

Thanks to all - I am trying to learn more about meditation and think my T would be open to talking about it...

[Victoria'smom]

I hope I don't offend anyone I will delete this if I do.

My T knows but because I'm atheist it doesn't really come up unless we are talking about delusions / hallucination vs. religious believe and my families mental health.

(I'm not saying religion is a delusion or hallucination. Just my family interlinks the two and I have to find where one starts and one ends. So that I can react accordingly.)

[Wren_]

I discuss it sometimes with my T, but I also know that we have wildly different beliefs and that it is an area that he really hinders rather than helps. I guess that would be my concern with you sharing with your T if you know she holds different beliefs to you; that it might lead to more confusion as it has and does for me

[scorpiosis37]

Yes. My T and I are both atheists (it was important to me to find a T with a similar worldview). It has been very useful to talk to T about things like dating someone with different beliefs, how to handle a religious friend who was trying to push her beliefs on me, and how to deal with my chiropractor constantly bringing up God during my appointments.

Yes me and new t are both atheists! Ex t was very religious had books about religion and nuns all over her house, it was very distracting.

[eskielover]

I don't think my psychologist is Christian as I am.....when I comment on something about my belief & how it makes sense in my life, she doesn't quite seem to get it as I know any other Christian would. She has never said what her beliefs are.....it's a community mental health center, so they basically are not allowed to say anything about religion one way or another. It's interesting in our DBT group because most if not all are Christians & we shared a lot about our beliefs & how they tie with the DBT....but it doesn't come from the group leaders.

[karebear1]

Originally Posted by cottonwood

Stupid question:

"What is a T ?"

A "T" is your Therapist.

"Pdoc" is your psychiatrist

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by Butterflies Are Free

I was wondering how many people discuss their belief system, whatever that may be, with their Ts?

I do, all the time. My faith touches everything, is central to my self, and is a central part of my therapy.

On occasion we talk about it. I'm a person of faith, and my relationship to God and to my church are vital parts of my life. Generally it doesn't come up, but there have been points in the last few years where my faith has been tested when talking about my faith was important to my healing. T and I have similar backgrounds religiously, so he understands theologically and spiritually where I come from for the most part.

I actually talk to him more about this than I did my pastor who was my T (licensed pastoral counselor) some years back. I just was in a different place back then.