[PerryJeffJoeJimBob]

I am not a believer in any religion or god. So many aspects of therapy, counseling, 12 steps programs, etc., suggest to look to god or other things for spiritual support. My therapist is a believer, and she uses religious beliefs for other clients. I don't know if this impedes her efforts with me.

Because of my non-beliefs, I find seeking spiritual support impossible even though I wish I could. I have looked my entire life for any source of spiritual support. One cannot believe just thru sheer will alone. Does anyone have similar issues and hopefully some suggestions for me?

[bluekoi]

PerryJoeJimBob, I'm not religious. I do not believe in heaven and hell or in a supreme being. I do believe mankind is basically good. I treat others as I want to be treated. This helps me to strive to be a good, helpful person. I'm not sure my response answers your question, though.

[music junkie]

I'm not religious, but I unfortunately don't have any suggestions for you, either, except to find a therapist that is more closely aligned with your mindset. I couldn't have a therapist like that. I personally have not run into the problems you have with finding avenues of support that are not religious in nature. It does require extra searching, I guess, but I just haven't come across that. I hope you will find something that works better for you, though.

Originally Posted by PerryJoeJimBob

I am not a believer in any religion or god. So many aspects of therapy, counseling, 12 steps programs, etc., suggest to look to god or other things for spiritual support. My therapist is a believer, and she uses religious beliefs for other clients. I don't know if this impedes her efforts with me.

Because of my non-beliefs, I find seeking spiritual support impossible even though I wish I could. I have looked my entire life for any source of spiritual support. One cannot believe just thru sheer will alone. Does anyone have similar issues and hopefully some suggestions for me?

Don't worry Perry, 99% of people who claim to be religious are not true believers either. They might say all the right things, but they don't really believe it. I'm sure you've heard of actions speak louder than words. Well, that is absolutely true. That is the way you can tell if someone has faith or not, when they DO (not merely say) things based on faith alone, almost like taking a chance when you're not sure, but just believing that it WILL work. It is only faith that increases your belief. You're absolutely right, you can't believe simply by will power, or wishing to believe. Also it's not about "not being scared" or "not being a coward", trust me, taking a leap of faith is the most scary thing you'll ever do in your life. It's normal to be afraid, having faith by "not being afraid" or "manning up" is such an old myth. I learnt it is only through life experiences that one can begin to have faith in say God, for example. It happens when you realize the world doesn't hold the answers to your problems and you begin to look beyond the conventional wisdoms of the world to another source for help. It's when you realize most people don't have a clue about how to help another, because they don't really believe the stuff they're preaching themselves. It's the worst form of hypocrisy and many religious teachers are guilty of it. I fear your therapist might be of the same kettle of fish unfortunately.

I wish you all the best . I see religious talk is not allowed on here so I'm going to shut up now. But, feel free to PM me any time if you would like to talk about anything .

[IceColdSpear]

Well, to give this forum credit, there are numerous sections and chat support groups already devoted to religion. Not everything in existence needs to be religious in nature, and OP has a right to seek help based on how he truly feels as a person.

Originally Posted by IceColdSpear

Well, to give this forum credit, there are numerous sections and chat support groups already devoted to religion. Not everything in existence needs to be religious in nature, and OP has a right to seek help based on how he truly feels as a person.

I know. This is what I mean, he is saying his T is basing some techniques on religion, but Perry is not religious. I am saying the religion-based steps themselves are not going to solve anything. If we, or the T herself doesn't even believe in the steps for their psychological merit (forget their religious connection), you might as well not continue. Just the fact that they are based on religion doesn't qualify them as infallible. If they make no sense to a non-religious person, the steps might as well be scrapped from the program.

I know what I'm saying seems jumbled at first glance, but what I'm saying is I get the feeling that Perry has more faith in the steps than his own therapist does! His T is pushing some of the steps because they have a religious backing. It sounds like the T is trying to validate the steps and trying to convince herself that they should work! Perry is looking past the whole religion thing and is actually trying to find the real psychological merit that those steps actually contain, if you take the whole religious connotation away from it. In other words, you remove the religion, the T won't have a reason to believe they really work. Perry has more faith in the steps than the T does! Now you can imagine how hard it is to try and heal when the person treating you is less convinced about the treatment than you are yourself.

Perry, I would agree with Music Junkie, try to find a T "closer to home" in terms of your mindset.

[PerryJeffJoeJimBob]

I appreciate everyone's posts. Thankfully my therapist does not bring religion into our sessions following our first meetings. I am sure she understands my beliefs. I am just not sure if it removes one of the tools from her toolbox.

To give her credit, she is working with me. Maybe we can help each other. She may be the best therapist for me in this area of California. Most therapists around here stress they use religious-based therapy. This is a God, Guns, and Trucks rural area. You can't spit without hitting a church. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Perna]

I enjoyed working with Carl Jung and his archetypes and synchronicity and my dreams/unconscious, etc.

Jungian Psychotherapy

[Slamjammer]

One can be spiritual without being religious. It's simply a matter of realizing that you are NOT the center of the universe, and that there are many things in life...issues, causes, beliefs...that are much bigger than the individual. Simply find something that calls to you and make yourself a part of it.

Check this out
Action for Happiness

[(JD)]

I doubt that your not being religious would impede a trained, certified therapist. Her beliefs will give her strength to help you though, and she doesn't sound like she has pushed her spirituality upon you.

We are all spiritual beings, imo. You just haven't realized yours yet? There are things you "believe" in ...or enjoy perhaps ? Start there?

What things do you appreciate? Why? I might guess that the art you look at, or the sense of calm you might experience when you are viewing a sight of nature...whatever it is... that is part of your spirituality...

For some people their families cultivated the spiritual aspects within them...at least enough to send them on their way to make their own views of spirituality...for others, they were forced into a belief (and probably later rebelled with good reason)... maybe your spirituality just hasn't been nurtured yet?

Be gentle with yourself, and open, and think about it...I think it's there, inside, and wanting to show you (which is why you posted in the spirituality forum).

[sabby]

Because of the guidelines for this forum (no discussion of religion allowed) this thread will now be closed.