ERIC Number: ED432705
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1997-May
Pages: 60
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Spirituality and Rehabilitation: A Focus Group Approach.
York, Kenneth D.; Miller, Doreen M.; Duncan, Cecil
The purpose of this study was to assess the rehabilitation counselor issues regarding the integration of spirituality into rehabilitation counseling. Rehabilitation counseling, from its inception, has espoused the concept of holism. The holistic approach to rehabilitation counseling recognizes the importance of working with the whole person, to include body, mind, and spirit. However, it is evident that the spiritual dimension of the client is totally excluded, rendering rehabilitation counseling comprehensive, but not holistic. Focus groups were conducted among public sector rehabilitation counselors to determine the issues related to the integration of spirituality. The sessions were audio recorded and later transcribed and analyzed. The data were arranged into dominant themes. The emerging themes included: the need for relevant training; the complexity of the barriers to integration; the need to refer clients; the importance of maintaining neutrality; the importance of tailoring service delivery; the concern for legal issues; the importance of the counselors' own spiritual awareness; and the need for parameters and agency protocol. The consensus of the focus groups was that there was a definite need for the spiritual dimension to be integrated into the rehabilitation counseling process. The majority of the groups also indicated that integration was feasible, with the provision of academic or in-service training. Three appendixes provide a list of the questions used to guide the focus groups; a description of research procedures; statement of consent, agreement, and attestation; and a form used to gather demographic information gathered from participants. (Contains 42 references.) (Author/MKA)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A