And why should you care?
Approximately 80% of Americans believe in a supernatural god of some kind. So, there is a good chance that any given therapist is religious or spiritual in some way.
A secular therapist is one who clearly identifies they do not include spiritual or religious practices in their work.
Unfortunately, many of my clients and friends have reported that a therapist introduced unwanted religious or spiritual beliefs and practices into therapy. They’ve reported therapists suggesting prayer, recommending religion-based books, insisting that AA is the only way to get sober, and encouraging belief in an afterlife to cope with grief.
It’s a real problem. Not all therapists, of course. But don’t you want to be sure?
This person found himself being pushed back into the closet by his Better Help therapist.
Read here about therapists on LinkedIn who think reproductive rights are evil.
There are so many reasons that you might want to find a secular therapist in Florida or secular therapist in California.
You may be dealing with grief or a difficult life change, and you don’t want to be told it is “god’s plan” or that you need to “pray about it.”
You may be in the process of deconstructing old beliefs and shedding religious indoctrination, while also trying to figure out what you believe and who you are now. Maybe you are wondering if you are dealing with religious trauma.
As an LGBTQ+ person, you may be experiencing the negative impact of past religious oppression. Perhaps purity culture and patriarchy have messed with your head, and you’re dealing with the aftermath.
Or you might have all that figured out, but you just want to be certain your therapist is going to keep spiritual or religious elements out of your care as you deal with anxiety, stress, or relationship problems.
Does any of this sound like you? Then let’s talk.