Spirituality, Religion, and Aging: Illuminations for Therapeutic Practice

Spirituality and Older Adults is a primary or supplementary text for courses on spirituality and aging or working with elderly clients. Holly Nelson-Becker presents an in-depth treatment on spirituality in later life, which is often taboo for many mental health workers. It aims to provide a broad understanding of spirituality in later life, as well as practical and treatment applications.

Most older adults seeking counseling are often struggling with end of life issues, bereavement and loss, or depression and spirituality and religion often play a central role. Yet, many mental health professionals, avoid dealing with these issues due to a general lack of understanding in how to be "spiritually" competent. The aim of this book is to help practitioners deal with spirituality in a way that strengthens the relationship and provides spiritually sensitive practice. It begins with a foundation/framework of understanding spirituality in aging and then describes, defines, and outlines the history and definition of spirituality and religion followed by a presentation of popular theories.