Minding the Gap: Spirituality in Clinical Practice During Increased Secularization and Mental Health Needs

While there has been a recent dramatic increase in societal stress and mental health challenges, there has also been a dramatic increase in secularization with more people unaffiliated with any spiritual and religious communities or traditions. Years of research have well-documented the physical and mental health benefits of spiritual and religious practices, engagement, and communities that may no longer be available to those who now consider themselves religious "nones" or "dones." Clinicians, who are spiritually and religiously informed, trained, and engaged, can help to bridge this gap between high stress and low religious engagement during current times. They can do so by creatively engaging clientele with secular versions of spiritual and religious tools for better health and wellness or by working with clients to find new ways to use spiritual and religious strategies that they feel comfortable with regardless of their lack of religious affiliations and interests. This brief reflection discusses minding the gap of increased secularization and increased mental health needs among clients using spiritual and religiously based perspectives and tools. The reflection also calls for and encourages further research and the practice of evidence-based spiritual and religious interventions within an increasingly stressful and secular society.