The Use of Spirituality in Narrative Couples and Family Therapy

Narrative therapy is a postmodern therapy approach that suggests that people make sense of their lives through the stories they create. Spirituality plays an active role in the processes of understanding life as a part of the stories of spiritually oriented individuals, couples, and families. The nature of narrative therapy aimed at considering the culture, beliefs, and spiritual values that shape clients’ stories allows spiritually oriented couples and families to express the spiritual dimension they possess within the therapy process of this approach and to use spirituality as a source of power for dealing with problems. This study aims to discuss narrative couples/family therapy and the use of this therapy method within the framework of the related literature by noting ethical rules and incorporating spirituality with spiritually oriented couples and families. Information is provided in this context primarily with regard to narrative therapy, narrative couples/family therapy, the process of narrative couples/family therapy, and the responsibilities of the therapist in this therapy approach. Afterward, case samples in narrative therapy with regard to the importance of spirituality are presented, and the use of spirituality by inclusion in the techniques is explained using narrative couples/family therapy techniques. This study is thought to fill in the missing points that exist with in Turkey’s literature with regard to both narrative couples/family therapy as well as the use of spirituality by incorporating it in family therapy and to provide a different viewpoint to practitioners and researchers in the field.

Narrative Çift ve Aile Terapisinde Maneviyatın Kullanımı

Naratif terapi, insanların hayatlarını oluşturdukları hikayeler aracılığıyla anlamlandırdığını öne süren postmodern bir terapi yaklaşımıdır. Maneviyat, manevi yönelimli bireylerin, çiftlerin ve ailelerin hikayelerinin bir parçası olarak yaşamı anlamlandırma süreçlerinde etkin bir rol oynamaktadır. Naratif terapinin; danışanların hikayelerini şekillendiren kültür, inanç ve manevi değerleri göz önüne almaya yönelik doğası, bu yaklaşımın manevi yönelimli çift ve ailelerin sahip oldukları manevi boyutu terapi süreci içerisinde dile getirmelerine ve maneviyatı sorunlarla baş etmede bir güç kaynağı olarak kullanmalarına imkan sağlamaktadır. Bu çalışmada naratif çift/aile terapisinin ve bu terapi yönteminin etik kurallar dikkate alınarak manevi yönelimli çift ve ailelerle maneviyat dahil edilerek kullanımının ilgili literatür çerçevesinde ele alınması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda öncelikle naratif terapiye, naratif çift/aile terapisine, naratif çift/aile terapisi sürecine ve bu terapi yaklaşımında terapistin sorumluluklarına ilişkin bilgi verilmektedir. Sonrasında naratif terapide maneviyatın önemine değinilerek vaka örneği sunulmakta ve naratif çift/aile terapisi teknikleri ile tekniklere maneviyatın dahil edilerek kullanımı açıklanmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın yurt içi alanyazında hem naratif çift ve aile terapisine yönelik hem de maneviyatın naratif çift ve aile terapisine dahil edilerek kullanılmasına yönelik var olan eksik noktaları tamamlayacağı, alandaki uygulayıcılara ve araştırmalara farklı bir bakış açısı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

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