DEI Efforts Should Include Religion/Spirituality Too: Ethical and Professional Considerations

Professional psychology, along with many other health care disciplines as well as society in general, have become increasingly attentive and sensitive to issues of cultural diversity in recent years. We are likely all well aware of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within our professional organizations and institutions and the importance of becoming more culturally competent in our various professional roles. Most of these efforts have focused on issues related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and various marginalized or oppressed groups. One area that has received inadequate attention in these efforts has been religious/spiritual diversity.  The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the ethical issues associated with attention to religious and spiritual diversity and the integration of this important element of human functioning into our clinical work.