There is no arguing with the fact that the spiritual and religious values of a client might be key factors in determining the direction of treatment. According to Scalise and Clinton, the relationship between a counselor and their client must be based on a constant presence of trust.
Therefore, counselors are to use appropriate empathy skills – that is, learn to understand the client’s point of view and be able to accept differences between their client’s perspective and their own. Scalise and Clinton note that when counselors, for whatever reason, avoid “client material [related to spirituality], clients may perceive… [counselors] to be less expert, attractive, and trustworthy”.
Clinicians are ethically responsible for treating their clients within clients’ relevant value systems. In the case of a lack of competence (that is, proper education, training, and experience) or the inability to enable an efficient therapeutic process, it is one’s responsibility to refer a client to another specialist.
Diversity is an important factor to take into account when providing counseling-related services. In order for it to not be a problem, a counselor must be culturally competent. As per Scalise and Clinton, cultural competency implies the minimum level of awareness and knowledge representing norms, traditions, and values of another that impact their outlook on life.
That is, from the Christian worldview, counselors are to maintain respect for their client’s belief systems and learn to recognize when faith is important to them. Moreover, counselors are to share their own view on faith exclusively “as a function of legitimate self-disclosure” and when appropriate to the needs of a client. That way, one’s religious beliefs or personal values are not imposed on clients.