Developing cultural competence with LDS clients: Utilizing spiritual genograms in social work practice

ABSTRACT

In recent years, social work has increasingly focused on spirituality and religion as key elements of cultural competence. Consequently, specific strategies have been developed to provide the most appropriate interventions for religious clients. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is the fourth largest and the fastest growing church in the United States and is one of the fastest growing churches worldwide. In an effort to facilitate cultural competence with LDS clients, a spiritual assessment tool was developed based upon the genogram. Evaluation of this tool was facilitated through a survey of 100 practitioners. Participants liked the idea of using a spiritual genogram and felt it would be a useful tool in therapy. In general, they thought the questions associated with the spiritual genogram were appropriate and consistent with LDS culture, although numerous suggestions for improvement were offered.

KEYWORDS:

• spirituality
• religion
• clinical
• mental health/health

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gordon E. Limb

Gordon E. Limb, PhD, is Professor and Director, Kaitlin Ward and Alissa Ferrell were MSW students, School of Social Work, Brigham Young University.

David R. Hodge

David R. Hodge, PhD, is Professor, School of Social Work, Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at University of Pennsylvania’s Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.

Richard Alboroto

Richard Alboroto, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Hawaii at Manoa.