Clinicians interested in the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy will find the second edition of A Spiritual Strategy For Counseling and Psychotherapy most helpful as it presents a purposeful theoretical framework, spirituality assessment strategies and therapeutic interventions. It reviews the history and development of science and psychology, of the central beliefs of the major world religions and of the evolution of psychotherapy. The traditional antagonisms between the spiritual and scientific domains are examined. The authors propose that counselors need to include in the assessment procedure an understanding of clients’ religious and spiritual beliefs.

The book is the first to give guidance on how to integrate a theistic spiritual strategy into the mainstream approaches of psychotherapy in order to treat a large under served population of clients with religious and spiritual beliefs.

Richards and Bergin demonstrate respect for the scientific method and argue that spirituality is measurable and an important variable in treatment. They propose that their theistic spiritual strategies deserve the same attention afforded older more accepted psychotherapy approaches.

Remember, this course is based on the second edition of this text.

Educational Objectives

• know the difference between Western and Eastern spiritual worldviews
• be able to articulate a theistic, spiritual view of personality and mental health
• be able to articulate a theistic, spiritual view of psychotherapy
• be more aware of religious and spirituality assessment strategies
• have an increased competency to work with clients whose spirituality is vital to their worldview
• have a greater understanding of the ethical guidelines for integrating spirituality and psychotherapy

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The book is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.

Additional Resources On This Site for CE

• Letters to a Young Therapist
  by Mary Pipher PhD: 6 CE Credits
• Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived
  Edited by Corey L. M. Keyes and Jonathan Haidt: 13 CE Credits
• Spiritual Approaches in the Treatment of Women with Eating Disorders
  by P. Scott Richards, PhD, Randy K. Hardman, PhD, Michael E. Berrett, PhD: 9 CE Credits
• Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion
  by Robert W. Firestone, PhD, Lisa A. Firestone, PhD, Joyce Catlett, MA: 15 CE Credits
• Integrating Spirituality Into Treatment: Resources for Practitioners
  Edited by William R. Miller: 11 CE Credits

Additional Resources Not On This Site

• P. Scott Richards Homepage
• P. Scott Richards, Casebook for a Spiritual Strategy in Counseling and Psychotherapy, (APA, 2004)
• Allen E. Bergin, Eternal Values and Personal Growth: A Guide on Your Journey to Spiritual, Emotional, & Social Wellness

Bio: P. Scott Richards, PhD, Allen E. Bergin, PhD

P. Scott Richards, received his PhD in counseling psychology in 1988 from the University of Minnesota. He is coauthor of a Spiritual Strategy for Counseling and Psychotherapy (APA, 1997), coeditor of the Handbook of Psychotherapy and Religious Diversity (APA, 2000), and coeditor of Casebook for a Spiritual Strategy in Counseling and Psychotherapy (APA, 2004).

In 1999, he received the William C. Bier Award from Division 36 of the APA (Psychology of Religion). He has served as president of Division 36. He is a professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education at BYU. He is also a licensed psychologist and maintains a private psychotherapy practice at the Center for Change in Orem, Utah.


Allen E. Bergin, received his PhD in clinical psychology in 1960 from Stanford University. He was a professor of psychology at BYU for almost 30 years and served as the director of its Values Institute and director of the doctoral program in clinical psychology. He is past president of the Society for Psychotherapy Research and coeditor of the classic Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavioral Change (1994). He is coauthor of A Spiritual Strategy for Counseling and Psychotherapy (APA), 1997), coeditor of the Handbook of Psychotherapy and Religious Diversity (APA, 2000), and coeditor of Casebook for a Spiritual Strategy in Counseling and Psychotherapy (APA, 2004).

In 1989 he received the Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Knowledge from the APA. In 1990, Division 36 of APA (Psychology of Religion) presented him with the William James Award for Psychology of Religion Research. He has also received the Society for Psychotherapy Research's Distinguished Career Award (1998) and the American Psychiatric Association’s Oskar Pfister Award in Psychiatry and Religion (1998).