Spiritual Interventions in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

This book presents guidance for integrating spiritual interventions in psychotherapy with children and their families. The interventions are appropriate for a range of settings, presenting problems, and client belief systems. Specific chapters address the use of prayer, forgiveness, acceptance, spiritual awareness, sacred texts, and God images in therapy. Illustrative case studies are included, and ethical issues are given special consideration.

Donald F. Walker, PhD, directs the Child Trauma Institute, an interdisciplinary research center devoted to understanding the role of religious faith in recovery from childhood abuse, treating survivors of child abuse, and training professionals in addressing spiritual issues in treatment. Dr. Walker also teaches in the PsyD program in clinical psychology at Regent University. As a professor, he teaches courses on clinical child psychology and trauma and supervises students at all levels of the program. He is a member of the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice, and the Division of Trauma Psychology (APA Divisions 36, 37, and 56, respectively). A clinical child psychologist, he maintains a small private practice treating children, teens, and families at Genesis Counseling Center in Hampton, VA.
 
William L. Hathaway, PhD, currently serves as a dean and professor in the School of Psychology & Counseling at Regent University. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology with Russell Barkley at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and has worked in both military and civilian child specialty clinics. His doctoral research focused on the psychology of religion and coping, and he has served in various governance roles, including president of the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (APA Division 36). He has published on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the clinical psychology of religion, spirituality and self-regulation, and relevant clinical training issues.