wfn.org | Clergy and Psychologists

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
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Note 535 by UMNS on Jan. 8, 1998 at 16:24 Eastern (4146 characters).

CONTACT: Linda Green					   8(10-71B)535
	    Nashville, Tenn. (615)742-5470		   Jan. 8, 1998

Survey finds gap between 
clergy and psychologists

by United Methodist News Service

	A United Methodist clergyman in Hawaii is one of six psychologists to
co-author a survey of research articles that found a large gap between
ministry and psychology.
	The Rev. Andrew Weaver, a clinical psychologist at Hawaii State Hospital in
Kaneohe, along with researchers from the University of Hawaii and the National
Institute for Healthcare Research conducted a study to understand the role of
clergy in relation to the practice of psychology. 
	Based on the survey, which examined more than 2,400 articles in eight leading
psychology journals, four or .02 percent of the articles included the role of
clergy in mental health despite the fact that 40 percent of Americans report
seeking assistance from clergy during times of personal distress. 
	According to the review, "What Do Psychologist Know About Working With
Clergy?" clergy are more likely than psychiatrists and psychologists combined
to have a person with a mental health diagnosis come to them for assistance.
The study revealed that public use of clergy should not be a surprise because
of their availability, accessibility and the high trust people place in them.
The findings also indicated that young adults regard clergy higher as more
warming, caring, stable and professional than either psychologists or
psychiatrists. 
	The authors said professional psychologists should seriously consider
expanding the contact they have with clergy in the communities where they
professionally work. They say clergy:
· have developed long-term relationships with individuals and their families
which enable them to observe behavioral changes, indicators of early signs of
distress;
· are accessible helpers within communities who offer a sense of continuity;
· can help psychologist gain access to family members in crisis who would
otherwise not receive psychological care.
Clergy, Weaver said, need to be linked with psychologists to provide
preventive intervention for at-risk couples and families. He said 85 percent
of the problems brought to pastors in the church are marital and family
issues.
The reason behind the lack of collaboration between mental health
professionals and clergy is " a lack of education in clinical training on
religious issues," the survey said. For many academic psychologists who
develop research and clinical training programs, "religion or the role of
clergy in mental health simply is outside of their experience."
According to Weaver and colleagues, 50 percent of psychologists in an academic
setting report having no religious preference. This figure, Weaver said, is
more than seven times greater than that found in the general population.
"What we have is a tremendous opportunity to bear witness," Weaver said.
"Pastors are seen as people who can help with mental health problems and they
are sought out in large numbers in the United States," he said. 
Despite the divide,  Weaver said progress has been made recently. "As of
January 1996, all psychiatric residency programs in the United States are
required to address spiritual and religious issues in their formal training."
He  said recent surveys show one-third of psychologists report a strong
interest in religion while 70 to 90 percent of clergy indicate a desire to
receive more training in mental health issues. 
The Rev. Patricia Barrett, an executive in the United Methodist division of
chaplains and related ministries, said "clergy who are trained mental health
professionals are an integral part of the healing process because wellness
involves integration of spiritual, mental and physical health."
She said mental health clergy, particularly chaplains, function to interpret
spiritual issues with colleagues and patients and bring their own faith to
their ministry with those who struggle with "dis-ease" as they move toward
wholeness.
Weaver said the power of this research "shows that nurturing, non-punitive
religion is good for your mental health."
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