In a refreshing expression of self-knowledge, Open Therapy Institute (2026) recently authored a piece noting a substantial gap in clinical psychological competence: religious understanding. As the article points out many religious clients today are seeking professional psychological help and, rather than finding an ally, they encounter ignorance or even opposition to their fundamental world-view. The result is that clients simply stop showing up to sessions. If a therapist cannot value what is often the deepest part of the person’s interior, there is very little cause to believe that a therapeutic alliance can be built.

The Tenor of the Field

Citing Nina Silander the article offers a hypothesis for the misalignment: “mental health professionals are considerably less religious than the American public and therefore considerably less religious than the people whom they are supposed to treat” (Open Therapy Institute, 2026). Neil Kressel (2026) indicates that roughly 80% to 90% of Americans believe in God and 75% affiliate themselves with a religious faith. Conversely, he noted that only about 25% of mental health professionals believed in God. The disparity of belief is a landmine for ruptures in the therapeutic relationship. Admittedly, there are many clinicians who, through empathy and unconditional positive regard strive to appreciate values foreign to their own belief system. But is this being taught?

The Need for a Religious Specific Competency Training

Personal beliefs aside, there appears to be a substantial gap in clinical training. Surveys show that between 52.2 and 80.7% of surveyed psychologists “reported little or no training" in religious competencies (Vieten et al., 2016). One can strive to be accepting, but as Kressel (2026) notes “many [therapists] are uncomfortable discussing religious matters in therapy…”. This lack of comfort likely finds its origin in a lack of knowledge of the content of religious belief.

Institutions Primed to Assist

Thankfully, avenues are being constructed to help assuage the fears caused by a lack of knowledge. Religious universities like the University of Mary and Divine Mercy University are beginning to offer certifications and publications in anthropology that are steeped in a theological and philosophical understanding of the person.

The article from Psychology Today seems to mark a most welcome shift in the appreciation of religious value: “Religious traditions offer a wealth of wisdom teachings, guidelines, and practices that have helped people lead fulfilling lives for millennia” (Open Therapy Institute, 2026). Institutions and religious leaders are prepared to collaborate in the accompaniment and competent care of our religious clients.

References

Kressel, N. J. (2026, March 16). How therapists often fail religious clients. Open Inquiry in Mental Health. https://openinquirymentalhealth.substack.com/p/how-therapists-often-fail-religious

Open Therapy Institute. (2026, September 17). Why religious patients often quit therapy: Therapy's blind spot is costing patients real care. Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/open-therapy/202609/why-religious-patients-often-quit-therapy

Vieten, C., Scammell, S., Pierce, A., Pilato, R., Ammondson, I., Pargament, K. I., & Lukoff, D. (2016). Competencies for psychologists in the domains of religion and spirituality. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 3(2). ​​https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-32478-002