Religiosity of psychotherapists: a national survey

Bergin, Allen E.; Jensen, Jay P.

doi:10.1037/0033-3204.27.1.3

Cited by 376Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsReligion and Society Interactions

Religiosity of psychotherapists: a national survey

Bergin, Allen E., Jensen, Jay P.·1990·Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training

DOI 10.1037/0033-3204.27.1.3

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The data are in accordance with previous reports that psychiatrists are less likely to believe in God and declare a religious affiliation than the general population or physicians from other specialties.
“Our data are in accordance with previous reports in which psychiatrists were less likely to believe in God and declare a religious affiliation than the general population16-18,30 or physicians from other specialties.31”
From How psychiatrists think about religious and spiritual beliefs in clinical practice: findings from a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil (2019) · cites this paper as [30]

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“However, this is not necessarily a consequence of irreligious attitudes: surveys of mental health practitioners in the US indicate high levels of religious or spiritual belief, albeit to a slightly lesser degree than among the general population (for example, Bergin and Jensen, 1990).”
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Implementation of a program to improve the continuity of mental health care through Clergy Outreach and Professional Engagement (C.O.P.E.).
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“Compared with the general public, psychologists are far less likely to affiliate with any organized religion (Bergin & Jensen, 1990) and are less likely to have received personal religious education (Shafranske & Malony, 1990).”
Background
A Systematic Review of Research on Religion in Four Major Psychiatric Journals: 1991-1995
Weaver, A. J., Samford, J. A., Larson, D. B., Lucas, L. A., Koenig, H. G., & Patrick, V. (1998) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/00005053-199803000-00008 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
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“Freud (1964) criticized religion as neurosis, and generations of psychiatrists and other psychotherapists were significantly less religious than most of American society (Bergin & Jensen, 1990; Franzblau, D’Agostino et al., 1975; Marx & Spray, 1969).”
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Cultural Competence in Counseling the Muslim Patient: Implications for Mental Health
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“In another survey, 72% of Americans agreed with the statement, “My whole approach to life is based on my religion.” By contrast, only 39% of psychiatrists and 33% of clinical psychologists accepted the statement, “My religious faith is the most important influence in my life” ( 6 ).”
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Measuring religious attitudes: reliability and validity of the German version of the Systems of Belief Inventory (SBI-15R-D) in a representative sample
Grulke, N., Bailer, H., Blaser, G., Geyer, M. A., Brähler, E., & Albani, C. (2003) · Mental Health Religion & Culture · doi:10.1080/1367467031000087665 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
“…published for survey respondents in the United States of America show that about 95% of the population believes in God, while more than 50% pray regularly and more than 40% go to church services at least once a week (Begin & Jensen, 1990; Princeton Religious Research Center, 1994).”
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Counselor Values: A National Survey
Kelly, E. W. (1995) · Journal of Counseling & Development · doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1995.tb01810.x · Cited by 51 · see citing works
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“…training around religion and spirituality, and the distinctions to be made between one’s personal beliefs and the ability to assess and intervene professionally when a client’s beliefs differ from one’s own (Bergin & Jensen, 1990; Maugans & Wadland, 1991; Olive, 1995; Shafranske & Malony, 1990).”
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The stress and distress of infertility: Does religion help women cope?
Domar, A. D., Penzias, A. S., Dusek, J. A., MAGNA, A., MERARIM, D., NIELSEN, B., & Paul, D. (2005) · Sexuality, reproduction & menopause · doi:10.1016/j.sram.2005.09.007 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
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Haug, I. E. (1998) · Contemporary Family Therapy · doi:10.1023/a:1025077425777 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
“Several trailblazing studies have explored mental health providers' attitudes toward religion and spirituality ( Bergin & Jensen, 1990; Lukoff & Turner, 1992; Shafranske & Gorsuch, 1984; Shafranske & Malony, 1990; Sheridan & Bullis, 1991), the availability and desirability of training in these matters (Aponte, 1996; B…”
Background
Experiencing a sense of calling: The influence of meaningful work on teachers’ work attitudes
Willemse, M., & Deacon, E. (2015) · SA Journal of Industrial Psychology · doi:10.4102/sajip.v41i1.1274 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
“Unfortunately, psychologists regarded it not appropriate to discuss religious concepts with clients and therefore a sense of calling had to be conceptualized as a modern or secular concept (Bergin & Jensen, 1990).”
Religious Values as Cross-Cultural Issues in Counseling
BISHOP, D. R. (1992) · Counseling and Values · doi:10.1002/j.2161-007x.1992.tb00786.x · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Special Issues in the Care of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Psychiatric In-Patients
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“…and psychotherapists, as a whole, report fewer religious behaviors and more secular attitudes than the general population (Bergin, 1980; Bergin & Jensen, 1990; Demling, Worthmuller, & O’Connoly, 2001; Gibson & Herron, 1990; Henry, Sims, & Spray, 1971; Kahn & Cross, 1984; Rubenstein,…”
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Ethical issues in multicultural student–faculty mentoring relationships in higher education
Schlosser, L. Z., & Foley, P. F. (2008) · Mentoring & Tutoring Partnership in Learning · doi:10.1080/13611260701801015 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
“Second, psychologists tend to be less religious than the general public (Bergin & Jensen, 1990) , and there exists a long history of tension between religion and science (and by extension, psychology); these factors have contributed to the inattention to religion as a salient aspect of cultural…”
Influential
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Recognizing Spirituality as an Important Factor in Counselor Supervision
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Spirituality as a Dimension of Family Therapists' Clinical Training
Haug, I. E. (1998) · Contemporary Family Therapy · doi:10.1023/a:1021628132514 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“Research seems to indicate that mental health professionals tend to be less religious than the clients they serve ( Bergin & Jensen, 1990; Shafranske, 1990) but that they consider spirituality as”
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Robertson, L. A. (2010) · Counseling and Values · doi:10.1002/j.2161-007x.2010.tb00019.x · Cited by 43 · see citing works
A Systematic Review of Research on Religion in Six Primary Marriage and Family Journals: 1995-1999
Weaver, A. J., Samford, J. A., Morgan, V. J., Larson, D. B., Koenig, H. G., & Flannelly, K. J. (2002) · American Journal of Family Therapy · doi:10.1080/01926180290033448 · Cited by 43 · see citing works

Psychologists’ religiosity and spirituality and their impact on clinical practice: A Brazilian national survey.
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Psychotherapeutic change and social adjustment: A report of a national survey of psychotherapists.
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Authors: Bergin, A. E., & Jensen, J. P.
Affiliations: Brigham Young University (US)
Venue: Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1990
Volume: 27
Issue: 1
Pages: 3-7
ISSN: 0033-3204 (ISSN-L)
1939-1536
DOI: 10.1037/0033-3204.27.1.3
OpenAlex: W2058237418
Cited by: 375
References: 19
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 17
FWCI: 6.62
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
Keywords: religiosity, psychotherapists, religion and psychotherapy, therapist beliefs, spirituality in therapy

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