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Preferences Regarding Prayer

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Christian Clients’ Preferences Regarding Prayer As A Counseling Intervention
Angela Whitworth
Liberty University

Summary Spirituality is becoming an important consideration in counseling for the client and for the mental health practitioners. Spiritual interventions, such as prayer, are being used more in the counseling sessions. With 80% of the United States population believing in God and the power of prayer, it is not surprising that many clients want religion and/or spirituality included in their counseling sessions. Some practitioners believe that it is appropriate to pray with their clients, but most providers believe that it is inappropriate. Currently, research is lacking in client expectations with regards to prayer being included in counseling.
This study particularly surveyed Christian clients and their therapists. The therapists were chosen because they advertised themselves as Christian counselors. Two instruments were created, Prayer Survey and the Brief Therapist Prayer Survey. The Prayer Survey was for the client to complete to assist in determining their preference in regards to prayer to in counseling. The Brief Therapist Survey was used to find out about beliefs and prayer practices of the therapists. The therapist survey was also used to help determine if therapist factors are related to their client expectations.
The study found that eighty-two percent of clients wished to have audible prayer in their counseling sessions. Those that were less likely to want audible prayer are those that had not received prior Christian counseling, Catholics, and religiously liberal individuals. Despite the difference among the groups, a majority and in some instances almost all Christian clients of Christian counselors wanted and expected audible prayer as a part of their counseling services. Interestingly, the surveys showed that the therapists use of

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