Introduction
This information sheet explores spirituality, faith and religion, offering definitions of the terminology and identifying explicit and implicit issues. The question of how this therapeutic work is similar to, or different from, other therapy is examined in a variety of contexts.

Other topics addressed include contracting, accountability, boundaries, dual relationships, levels of competence and ethical choices. Recommendations are given on personal and professional development in this area and resources are listed.

Whilst numbers released by the Church of England (2007:1 and website in Resources at end) show that Sunday church attendance is in decline, West, W. (2004:18) states that the number of mosques and Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu temples is increasing. Paganism claims to be the fastest growing religion in the UK and new religious movements and new age spirituality are increasingly popular. Therapists may therefore encounter clients with a wide variety of faiths, spirituality and religious backgrounds and experiences

Explicit and implicit spiritual issues
Clients may present with explicit or implicit spiritual issues:

1. Explicit issues of belief which are causing distress or difficulty eg loss or questioning of faith.

2. Explicit issues arising from within a belief-sharing community eg relationships within that community.

3. Implicit issues, eg bereavement, relationship, sexuality, depression, seen with a specific spiritual perspective.

4. Explicit issues arising from outside a belief sharing community, eg family or peer pressure not to join, or to leave, the community.

BACP members can access the full information sheet Working with issues of spirituality, faith or religion by logging into www.bacp.co.uk.
 Non-members of BACP can purchase online at the BACP bookstore