Navigating Faith in Clinical Practice: A Qualitative Study of Mental Health Professionals Working with Immigrant Clients

Author/s: Sandra Dixon, Juliane Bell

DOI: http://doi.org/10.37898/spiritualpc.1610763 

Year: 2025 Vol: 10 Number: 2

Abstract

In Canada’s multicultural society, faith plays a vital role in the lives of many immigrants. However, mental health professionals (MHPs) often overlook or disregard immigrant clients’ spiritual and religious beliefs, despite their potential impact on mental health and coping mechanisms. Grounded in social constructionism, this qualitative study recognizes that faith is constructed and negotiated through social interactions and relationships. To address the gap in faith-informed practice, this study explored how MHPs navigate faith in clinical practice through interviews with 10 MHPs in Alberta, Canada. Eight core themes emerged: Conceptualization of Faith, Strategies for Incorporating Faith into Practice, Fostering Strong Client Relationships, Faith Informing Practice and Professional Growth, Faith as a Salient Dimension of Mental Health, Faith Competence in Multicultural Practice for Client-Centered Care, Pathways for Faith-Based Training and Learning, and Barriers to Integrating Faith. The study contributes to scholarship on clinical practice and faith, highlighting the need for faith competence in mental health care. The discussion examines building faith competence, overcoming barriers, and implications for theory, practice, and policymaking. Limitations, strengths, and future directions are also discussed. This study provides long-term recommendations for MHPs to deliver inclusive care that dignifies the diverse faith beliefs and worldviews of their clients.

Keywords
Client-centered care • Clinical practice • Faith • Immigrants • Mental health professionals