Integrating Spiritual Sensitivity Into Your Therapeutic Practice w/Andrea Murray-Lichtman, MSW, LCSW

   
The Matthew O. Howard Memorial Lecture               

When:
March 18, 2019, 12-2pm Monday

Where:
UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work Auditorium, 325 Pittsboro St, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Directions and Parking.
**LIVE STREAMING AVAILABLE**

Continuing Education:
2 Hours (details)

Fees:
$35.00

**Current UNC-SSW students, staff, faculty, field instructors, and task supervisors**
Fee Waived

Description:
Spirituality and religion are powerful forces in many people’s lives, yet they are often relegated to the periphery of psychotherapeutic research and practice. In this workshop, Andrea Murray-Lichtman explores how spirituality can inform, challenge, and deepen psychotherapeutic work with diverse populations. This includes how to engage with clients’ beliefs and existing spiritual traditions within the framework of psychotherapy. She will also address the interplay of spirituality, meaning, and values, and their role in wellbeing, particularly in the face of challenging circumstances. Using case examples, Andrea Murray-Lichtman will illustrate ways to address common clinical concerns in a spiritually sensitive practice, regardless of the therapeutic approach.

Trainer:
Andrea Murray-Lichtman, MSW, LCSW is a faculty member at UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work, where she teaches courses on clinical practice with diverse populations and supervises MSW students in direct practice. Her areas of interest include spirituality, social justice, cultural humility, and pedagogy about enhancing access and services for marginalized populations. Prior to joining the faculty at UNC, Andrea served as clinical faculty at Duke University Medical Center providing individual and group psychotherapy to diverse individuals living with comorbid HIV and other chronic health, substance use, and mental health issues. She managed a private practice and served as clinical director of a local community behavioral health program. Andrea currently takes a lead role in providing community pro-bono mental health services through a local faith-based mental health organization.

Learning objectives:
At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Name and apply at least 1 evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach that can help clients to access spiritual resources and create life meaning.
2. Identify at least 2 reasons for integrating diverse expressions of spirituality and religion into psychotherapeutic work with clients.
3. Describe at least 1 way in which practitioners may approach potential conflicts between religious values and professional ethics and beliefs.
4. Identify at least 1 reason that spirituality and religion need to be addressed as part of ethical psychotherapeutic practice.

References:

• Bowles, D., Clayton, O., & Hopps, J. G. (2017). Spirituality and social work practice at historically black colleges and universities. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 27(5), 424. doi:10.1080/10911359.2016.1203384
• Plante, T. G. (2007). Integrating spirituality and psychotherapy: Ethical issues and principles to consider. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63(9), 891-902. doi:10.1002/jclp.20383
• Post, B. C., & Wade, N. G. (2009). Religion and spirituality in psychotherapy: A practice-friendly review of research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(2), 131-146. doi:10.1002/jclp.20563
• Oxhandler, H. K., Parrish, D. E., Torres, L. R., & Achenbaum, W. A. (2015). The integration of clients’ religion and spirituality in social work practice: A national survey. Social Work, 60(3), 228-237. doi:10.1093/sw/swv018
• Oxhandler, H. K. (2017). Social work field instructors’ integration of religion and spirituality in clinical practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(3), 449-17. doi:10.1080/10437797.2016.1269706
• Rosmarin, D. H. (2018). Spirituality, Religion, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Guide for Clinicians. Guilford Press. New York: NY.
• Santiago, P. N., & Gall, T. L. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy as a spiritually integrated psychotherapy. Counseling and Values, 61(2), 239-254. doi:10.1002/cvj.12040
•  Sheridan, M. (2009). Ethical issues in the use of spiritually based interventions in social work practice: What are we doing and why. Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 28(1-2), 99-126. doi:10.1080/15426430802643687
• Stewart, C. (2013). Resolving social work value conflict: Social justice as the primary organizing value for social work.Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 32(2), 160-176. doi:10.1080/15426432.2013.779184
• Utsch, M., & Frick, S. (2015). Religiosity and spirituality in psychotherapy. Psychotherapeut, 60(5), 451-466. doi:10.1007/s00278-015-0052-5
• Valutis, S., Rubin, D., & Bell, M. (2014). Value conflicts and value priorities: It’s not just about religion. Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 33(2), 163-177. doi:10.1080/15426432.2014.900375

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work Clinical Lecture Series