Measuring Christian Integration in Professional Counseling Practice and the Contributions of Spiritual Formation and Mentoring

Abstract

This study surveyed counselors who integrate Christian faith to determine the impact of spiritual formation and mentoring relationships on integration satisfaction and activity. A holistic measure of integrative practice is proposed and used. In a convenience sample of 226 counselors who were Christian, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) found spiritual formation and mentoring relationships significantly contribute to satisfaction ( p < .001, [Formula: see text] = .127) and activity ( p = .001, [Formula: see text] = .041) of integration. A second MANOVA and post hoc tests explore the contribution of spiritual formation and mentoring relationship to 12 integration elements. A T-test found mean satisfaction was significantly higher than activity ( p < .001, d = 0.7) of integration. Counselor development is discussed in light of study findings with specific recommendations including a focus on spiritual formation.