Spirituality and Self‐Actualization: Considerations for 21st‐Century Counselors

This article presents the core of individual self-actualization (Maslow, 1986, 1998) found in individuals' spiritual identity, as illustrated through a case study, its debriefing, and identification of counterindications for the clinical use of spiritual interventions. Future research possibilities on the topic of spirituality and self-actualization are provided. ********** As the 21st century unfolds, the practice of counseling seems to be buffeted by multiple conceptual forces that may appear incongruent. Two of these forces form the framework for this article. One pressure concerns the balance between a deficit-focused, pathology-oriented approach to counseling, as used through the practice of diagnosis for the purposes of third-party reimbursement, and a growth-focused actualization model of professional service, as espoused by the humanist tradition. A second divergence calls attention to issues of cultural diversity in the practice of counseling, without specification as to which issues are most salient to which clients and for which client issues. As a potential resolution to these two tensions, this article provides a rationale and guidelines for incorporating a growth-focused model integrating the attributes of spiritual identity. To accomplish this purpose, topics including the focus of counseling and distinguishing deficiency and growth needs within Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory lead to an exploration of the process of identity formation. This discussion of identity narrows to a focus on spiritual identity and maturity, including a brief consideration of eudaimonic well-being. The connotations of these philosophical and theoretical bases will describe the centrality of spirituality in a growth-focused model for clients. This description is illustrated through the use of a case study, its debriefing, and attention to counterindicators for using such interventions in counseling. In additions, the implications of this viewpoint for future research are provided. THE FOCUS OF COUNSELING The first identified pressure asks counselors to determine how they wish to balance the deficit and potential-focused belief systems about clients and their issues. This query invites counselors to bear in mind their underlying assumptions regarding the potential of individuals to transcend their current life situations. For those counselors who choose to adhere to the tenets of humanistic counseling, the Association for Humanistic Counseling (AHC; 2011) website specified such core beliefs as follows: Humanistic theories attempt to describe the phenomenologically constructed world of the client by exploring the potential of humanity through the nature and experience of values, spirituality, meaning, emotions, transcendence, intentionality, healthy relationships, the self, self-actualization, creativity, mortality, holism, intuition, and responsibility (among other topics) ... It is within the humanistic counseling tradition that the core conditions of counseling emerged: unconditional positive regard, empathy, congruence, authenticity, caring for the client, phenomenological assessment strategies, self-discovery, and insight. These core conditions permit therapeutic intervention in life areas which were previously inaccessible, such as love, hope, meaning of life, loss, relationships, creativity, holism, spirituality, freedom, transcendence, personal growth, social justice, multicultural and gender issues, responsibility, and interdependence. ("What Defines Humanistic Theories?") These values hold that reaching human potential comes not through curative measures, such as diagnosis and symptom amelioration, but through freeing innate impulses for personal growth. It is accessing of one's "true self" that reveals those canons germane to each individual. Among those values are one's spirituality, meaning, and transcendence. …