Development and standardization of a tool for assessing spirituality in families for family-based interventions

Assessment is critical to the integration of strengths into the therapeutic domain. Spiritual assessment is an important aspect of holistic service provision and can help or lead to the complete understanding of the clients’ needs (Gilbert, 2000; Matteson, 2008; Miller, 1999; Pargament, 2007; Richards, & Bergin, 2005; Sperry & Shafranske, 2005). By assisting both the counsellor and client in understanding the role of spirituality in the issues that bring the client to counselling it can help in designing treatment, interventions appropriate for resolution of these matters. Marriage and family therapy have come to accept the role of spiritual and religious aspects in the lives of both the client and the therapist. The professional and cultural development that is visible also reiterates the significance of spiritual mapping (Ellison & Levin, 1998). A person’s interpersonal relations and relationship with God are important in the facilitation of coping, lessening of loneliness, and inspiration of a sense of meaning and purpose. It instills a sense of personal worth and value (Pargament, Koenig, & Perez, 2000; Perry, 1998). The three main religious groups, namely: Hindus, Muslims and Christians have deeply embedded in spiritual traditions. The religious and spiritual practices help in alleviating anxiety, dread, loneliness and ensuring a secure feeling and appreciation (Jacobs, 1992; Pargament, 1997; Perry, 1998; Worthington, Kurusu, McCullough, & Sandage, 1996). Marriage and family life have become especially precarious resulting in divorce and remarriage, prompting families to break up and recombining with greater complexity. With family forms and cultural values undergoing sea-changes and gender role reversal, no single model fits all (Walsh, 1999).