Create a response to each of the counselee's statements using these three strategies.

Counselor response: (goal: to open up the conversation to include a spiritual dimension)

Skill used: (What skill(s) were used?

Explanation: (What direction is the conversation going?)

Counselee: It really doesn't make a lot of sense. I try to do the right thing, and it always backfires. There's a piece missing; the formula I grew up with doesn't work.

Counselee: I went to synagogue as a kid. I even had my bar mitzvah. But I hated most of it. I don't get why my family continues to practice all those rules and old traditions.

Counselee: I go to church, but I don't understand all of those words like redemption and sanctification. I guess since I don't understand them, they don't really apply to me. But I enjoy my friends there, and the music is great!

Counselee: Are you a religious person? The last thing I want is for someone to start trying to convince me that their faith should be mine.

Counselee: What about all that supernatural stuff? Some of the TV shows with spirits and special powers are pretty good. It's not real, is it?

Counselee: I'm a person who only believes what I can see for myself. Science makes sense. If there is research to back it up, I'm good with it. Everything else is phony.

Counselee: My cousin is sort of nuts. He gets all worked up about God and what God wants him to do. He's even been in the hospital and has to take medication. He is really a religious fanatic. I hope it's not contagious.

Counselee: I get so upset about all of the horrible stuff that happens to people. I can't imagine doing what you do, listening all day long to people and their pain.