OASERVIC Spring Workshop - The Near Enemies of Truth Illusion: Addressing Spiritual Bypassing Ethically in Counseling

OASERVIC Spring Workshop

The Near Enemies of Truth Illusion: Addressing Spiritual Bypassing Ethically in Counseling

Saturday, April 13, 2024

9am-12:30pm

Description: Spirituality is an integral part of the human condition that elaborates on what feels profoundly true even though it is not demonstrable (Erikson, 1958/1962). How people describe and practice spirituality can provide an assortment of positive benefits for clients. However, there can be beliefs that appear similar to the desired quality but actually undermine it (Wallis, 2023). Known in Modern Buddhism as “near enemies” of truth (Kornfield, 2012; Wallis, 2023), these perspectives are often misunderstood or misused due to their deceptive nature but are often greater threats to an individual due to the challenge in recognizing it as such. This can lead to spiritual bypassing (Cashwell et al., 2007; Cashwell et al., 2010; Welwood, 1984), or the avoidance of genuine discomfort or difficult emotions using spiritual beliefs. Counselors must maintain best ethical practices when addressing spiritual bypassing by reviewing both the American Counseling Association [ACA] Code of Ethics (2014) and the competency standards set forth for both multicultural and social justice (Ratts, Singh, Nassar-McMillan, Butler, and McCullough, 2016) and for addressing religious and spiritual issues (Cashwell & Watts, 2010). This supports counselors to make determinations as to selecting best ethical practice interventions and referrals for client growth in counseling (Sperry & Shafranske, 2005). This experiential presentation will define near enemies of truth that lead to spiritual bypassing, describe common near enemy beliefs, distinguish between various ethical codes and competencies to highlight sensitivity to spiritual oriented clients and cultures, and select competent ways to address these distorted beliefs in the therapeutic setting while supporting spiritual diversity.

Pricing:

• $10 - OASERVIC MEMBER 
• $20 - OCA MEMBER 
• $15 - OCA STUDENT 
• $25 - NON-MEMBER 
• $35 - DAY-OF EVENT