Keywords

spirituality, psychotherapy, inspiration, helping professionals, theistic

Abstract

This qualitative research study examined the ways that helping professionals experi- ence inspiration, as defined as divine guidance or influence, in their therapeutic work. It also explored their beliefs about how helping professionals can seek inspiration in their work. Open-ended survey questions from 333 respondents from a diverse range of religious and professional backgrounds were qualitatively analyzed. The themes ex- tracted give insight into the ways that these helping professionals have experienced inspiration in their work and about how helping professionals can facilitate a spiritual space in the therapeutic context.

Original Publication Citation

O’Grady, K. A., & Richards, P. S. (2010). The role of inspiration in the helping professions. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 2, 57-66.