Spiritual Humility and the Spiritual Use of Self: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Counsellors' Experiences in the Therapeutic Relationship

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Spirituality remains a complex and sometimes contested dimension within counselling and psychotherapy practice. Although increasing attention has been given to spirituality in therapy, less is understood about how counsellors experience their own spiritual awareness within the therapeutic relationship. Aim This study explored how counsellors' awareness of spirituality may impact upon the therapeutic relationship. Method Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed to examine the lived experiences of five qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed using an inductive, idiographic approach. Findings Five experiential themes were identified: the relational impact of spirituality in the therapeutic relationship; the interplay of spirituality with humility; the therapist's openness to self, other and to something bigger; listening holistically with spiritual awareness; and the intrapersonal wrestle of the counsellor relating to spirituality in practice. Participants described spirituality as shaping therapeutic presence, relational depth, openness and holistic listening, while simultaneously requiring ongoing reflexivity and ethical sensitivity. Discussion The study introduces two conceptual contributions: spiritual humility and the spiritual use of self. Spiritual humility is conceptualised as the interplay between humility and the therapist's spiritual awareness, enabling openness and responsiveness to clients' spiritual and existential worlds. The spiritual use of self is proposed as a dimension of the broader therapeutic use of self, engaged when spirituality forms part of the therapist's integrated professional presence.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2026 · DOI ↗