What is the theory behind this Higher Power worksheet?
Religion and spirituality has a profound effect on an individual’s emotions, thoughts and actions. The belief in an all-encompassing higher power influences how one processes and reacts to the good and bad happenings in their lives. Many individuals rely on their religious beliefs as coping mechanisms in times of stress and despair. The attributes they assign to their higher power determines the kind of spiritual or religious rationale they use to explain difficult emotions such as anger, guilt, shame and anxiety or painful situations.
It is thus an important part of therapy to determine an individual’s religious or spiritual connection so that it can help customise their treatment plan and also give an idea about the effects of their beliefs on their thoughts and subsequent actions.
How will the worksheet help?
This worksheet will help a counsellor or therapist determine the religious and spiritual beliefs of their clients. This information can be useful in reaching a diagnosis, forming a deeper understanding of how their beliefs influence various aspects of their lives and customising a treatment plan that respects and values these beliefs.
How to use the worksheet?
This worksheet provides a series of questions which are related to the client’s religious or spiritual inclination. It is important that clients feel safe in their relationship with the therapist and do not feel like they have to hide their values or beliefs for the fear of being judged.
Higher Power Worksheet
Following are some questions regarding your religious or spiritual inclination. Please feel free to respond to the questions as openly as possible.
| Yes | No | |
| Do you believe in a higher power? | ||
| Would you call yourself a religious or spiritual person? | ||
| Do you actively participate in religious gatherings/events? | ||
| Do you actively follow religious rituals? | ||
| Do you often study/connect with your religious texts? | ||
| Do you believe your religion gives you comfort in bad times? | ||
| Do you believe your faith affects your decisions? | ||
| Do you believe your faith determines the way you act in certain situations? |
- What are some of the most prominent characteristics that your Higher Power possesses?
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- Which aspects of your life are heavily influenced by your faith?
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- Which aspects of your faith explain the hard times in your life?
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- Which aspects of your faith explain the good times in your life?
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- Write down some religion based strategies that you use in distressing and difficult times.
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Reference
You can download this worksheet here.