Week 3

           In what way does spirituality or religion impact a person’s mental health? Should clients be encouraged to explore one’s spirituality or religious curiosity in session? Or should these topics not be discussed at all? After reading Duffy’s article on spirituality/religiosity on career development, I was able to see how recognizing a client’s religiousness can expose clinicians and counselors to a client’s value system which can help with counseling and treatment. According to Duffy (2006), individuals who are highly spiritual or religious suffer from fewer health problems, recover from illness more quickly, and experience less stress during serious illness than those who are not. This wasn't surprising to see because spirituality/religiousness appears to be a common way to cope with life stressors that brings about a solid foundation in one’s self-esteem and value system. From my personal experience, my relationship with God through the practice of Christianity is one that has impacted some of my career choices. It has been especially influential in relieving some of the anxiety I experience when uncertain about making the “right” career decision.

From personal experience, I have experienced students being apprehensive about career counseling because of the idea of finding out that they made the “wrong” career choice, or they lack the abilities to choose a career path right for them. The life career model proposed by Miller-Tiedeman is one that seems to alleviate a lot of the anxiety and stress one may experience when making the “right” career decision. It encourages client’s to learn as they go, and be flexible and open to new career pathways. In some ways clients may use their spirituality as a guiding force in exploring their options through this model. I really could appreciate how Miller and Tiedeman emphasize clients finding the right life, and that one’s career development is only a compliment and not a primary goal. However, I don’t believe this model could be used on a client who doesn't like being in the gray area about their career path, or clients who don’t have a spiritual or religious value system, where a higher power is factor in their decision making.

            Decision-making was a recurring theme that I found in both chapter three reading and Duffy’s article within the career development process. Making the “right” decision is one that incorporates a lot of factors that an individual has to account for. How does one really know if they made the “right” decision? I think the answer is subjective and can be answered in so many ways.

Duffy, R.D. (2006). Spirituality, Religion, and Career Development: Current Status and Future Directions. The Career Development Quarterly. 55, 52-63.