Attitudes of Counselors towards Religion and Spirituality in Counseling Services and their Practices: The Case of Counseling Centers in Addis Ababa
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Date
2020
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the attitude of counselors towards the role of religion
and spirituality for counseling services and their practice in different counseling centers of Addis
Ababa. Mixed methods research design was used to address the objectives of the study. The data
were collected from 117 counselors of different counseling institutions using an adopted scale of
Duke Religion Index and, the role of religion and spirituality in practice scale (RRSP). In addition,
a semi-structured interview was used with five counselors. To analyze the data frequency,
percentage, means scores, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman rho statistic were computed. The
findings of the study revealed that majority of counselors had positive attitude towards the role of
religion and spirituality for counseling services. It also showed that most of counselors practice
religion and spiritual issues in their counseling services. Though, the qualitative result presented
that counselors didn’t practice religion and spirituality in counseling services. The findings from
Mann- Whitney U test indicated that there is no significant difference in attitude towards the role
of religion and spirituality in counseling services among counselors of different gender and age.
However, significant difference was found in attitude towards the role of religion and spirituality
in counseling services among counselors of educational status. Furthermore, a Mann- Whitney U
showed that there is no significant difference in practicing religion and spirituality in counseling
services among counselors of different gender, age and educational status. Results from Spearman
rho Statistic analysis also indicated that counselor’s religiosity was significantly and positively
correlated with counselor’s attitude towards the role of religion and spirituality in counseling
services and with counselor’s practice of religion and spirituality in counseling services. However,
weak positive correlation was found between counselor’s attitude towards the role of religion and
spirituality in counseling services and counselor’s practice of religion and spirituality in
counseling services. Based on the study findings, the researcher thus recommended for counselors
to update themselves with short and long term religious and spiritual related trainings.