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Spiritual awareness psychotherapy is a process of providing clients with an environment in which they may become more attuned to their own individual path in life. This approach involves not so much creating a dialogue between the client and the therapist but helping the client start a "dialogue with the universe," in which the client may see clearly the spiritual journey he or she is taking.
This therapeutic model is informed by both Jung and Rogers, and it may be described as a "spiritual Rogerian approach." The goal of the therapy is to help the client listen to what is emerging in the material coming out in the therapy. The therapist's attitude should be that of a colleague in the client's spiritual journey. It is assumed that the client already has a spiritual trajectory before entering therapy, and the therapist's job is to create a safe place in which to journey. The therapist may do this through Rogerian techniques of active reflective listening and creating a welcoming, safe context.
The spiritual aspects of the approach may depend entirely on where the client is spiritually. If the client feels comfortable discussing his or her spiritual life, the therapist should be accepting, open to the client's experiences as they are revealed. Simply paying attention to the spiritual side of life often yields results. If the client does not feel ready to share this aspect of his or her personality or does not think it is important, the therapist should not force it but should work with the client in whatever way the client feels most comfortable.
Dr. Miller's approach is predicated on a certain view of reality—that the universe is alive, that it has intentions and love for each individual and for humanity as a whole. The approach tries to tune into a dialogue with the universe to help clients discern the intentions of the universe for each client and evolve along their individual spiritual paths.
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