Relaciones entre subcategorías de todas las categorías

commonalities between the basic principles of therapy and their religious/spiritual beliefs. They then went on to describe how the secular and spiritual did more than just lie comfortably side by side, but actually had a reciprocal influence on each other.

This sub-theme describes the participants’ experience of the therapy having an impact on the religious/spiritual beliefs/practice, and vice versa, which seemed an unexpected bonus for them, especially as many had feared a secular therapy would somehow take away from their religious/spiritual self.

I think the two sort of helped each other really. (P1)

I don’t see a dividing point. I think I’m using one to help the other, I’m using my

faith, my spirituality to help heal the problems that I have (P5)

A lot of the [psychological] principles about how I manage myself and deal with

myself have a knock-on effect to those (the spiritual) areas of my life as well.

(P6)

It seemed that for some people, therapy got them to a point, or they hope will get them to a point, where they could then ask God for help.

.. .and I got to the point whereby visiting [clinical psychologist] and talking about

the abuse, I started to pray and I says "Lord something’s got to be done and I

don’t know what, show me the way. " (P5)

.. .[clinical psychologist] appreciated that I’ve deliberately not used my religion to

help me with my difficulty at the moment because as I said I’m not ready

but in the meantime I’m relying on my psychologist, psychiatrist and social worker. (P6)

Another participant described how she uses CBT techniques discussed in therapy to help her to more effectively achieve her spiritual goals in life.

I know by putting into practice the things I talk about with [clinical psychologist],

they will actually help in that (the things I strive for), even though those things

come from a Christian faith.. .We’ve talked about attention training and how that

can actually have beneficial effects on praying. (P6)

His hand was upon it

A theme common to many people was that they looked back on events to make sense of them, and it was at this point that they recognised the impact that God had on their situation.

In terms of prayer, then maybe retrospectively when I look back, then you see

the influence of it all. Although I wouldn’t have said this at the beginning (of

treatment). I’ve looked back and felt it was very much part of God’s plan. (PI)

I can even say I was sent to the right person, I felt I was sent to the right

person [by God]. (P5)

It was at this point, when the participants had come through the worst, that they were able to reconceptualise their difficulties into challenges that have had some positive outcomes.

.. .but I also think it was perhaps that God wanted to teach me a lesson as well,

because I was getting too high and mighty and i was forgetting my humility. So i

think it might have been a little bit of that as well / didn’t realise that until later

on. (P8)

...so the belief in my mind about what’s happened to me that none of it’s

accident but perhaps to go through all these things to somehow become closer to God or better person or something. That belief is absolutely fundamental.

(P2)

...I began to view them [mental health problems]...as a training ground to make

me a better person.. .1 have been blessed for my struggles (P5)

"My faith is stronger now"

All of the participants had been through very difficult experiences while struggling to cope with their mental health problems. The question was asked as to how their faith had changed, if at all, during this time. Without exception, all of them said their faith had become stronger.

No, definitely not challenged, my faith is always strong, definitely not challenged.

(P8)

My faith stayed still strong my faith in God I Just know whatever any human

.. .[my faith] increased I believe, what your faith is telling you is that although you

suffer tremendous hardship that good will always triumph over evil. There's

been no story in there where evil overcame good. (P2)

Some people made links between their faith strengthening and to the process of therapy.

.. .you’re not expecting to find any favours, any favouritism but you find the

kindest thing happens to you in a place where you’re not expecting anybody to

know about God or anybody to talk to you about God or anybody to have the

time, you know where you see yourself as one of the crowd and yet still you find

that your treatment has been one of complete individuality. So for me that

strengthens my faith. (P5)

My faith is stronger now, through the process [therapy] I am going through now.

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION