Substance Abuse CE Courses Mental Health CE Courses Healthcare CE Courses Behavioral Technicians CAP/CAC/MCAP

Clinical Perspectives on Religion and Anxiety: Balancing Healing and Harm

Leesa M. Robertson
2 hours

This course is designed for master’s and doctoral-level mental health professionals seeking to advance their clinical competence in addressing the complex and often nuanced interface between religion, spirituality, and psychological functioning. Clients frequently present with affective and cognitive experiences that are deeply shaped by their spiritual frameworks, including distressing phenomena such as shame, guilt, fear, and moral injury, as well as adaptive processes such as meaning-making, resilience, hope, and existential grounding.

Participants will examine empirically informed and ethically grounded approaches for integrating discussions of religion and spirituality into clinical practice. Instruction focuses on evidence-based strategies for assessing and treating religiously mediated shame and guilt, conceptualizing and intervening in spiritually framed anxiety, and therapeutically leveraging faith-based values to support motivation, behavior change, and post-traumatic growth. The course further emphasizes clinical ethics, cultural humility, and professional standards for working competently with diverse belief systems, ensuring interventions remain client-centered, respectful, and clinically appropriate across varied religious and spiritual contexts.

Course creation date:  May 5, 2025

This course will award 2 continuing education hours.

Please see the board approval box for course approvals.

Course Objectives

  1. Define and explore foundational concepts in religion and mental health.
  2. Examine the psychological significance of faith and the implications of its absence.
  3. Identify common psychological challenges associated with religious beliefs.
  4. Recognize the psychological benefits and supportive roles of religious beliefs.
  5. Assess the mental health impacts for individuals who have never held religious faith.
  6. Evaluate the psychological consequences of losing previously held religious beliefs.
  7. Discuss ethical considerations and develop cultural competency in addressing religion in therapy.
  8. Implement integrative clinical approaches for effectively managing religious and spiritual concerns in therapeutic practice.

Course Author

Leesa M. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC

Ms. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. She is credentialed in alcohol and other drug counseling.

Beginning her career in the hospital setting, working in admissions, on the 24-hour unit, inpatient and IOP for both adults and adolescents, she went on to supervise a group of clinicians that went into medical-surgical hospitals to assess and place patients. She went into the outpatient setting, working with adults and families. Throughout her career, Ms. Robertson has focused on training and education through presenting live and authored coursework.

Board Approvals

National Approvals

Approval for this course applies only to the national boards listed below.

  • American Psychological Association (APA)
    BaysideCEU is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Bayside Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) (ACE)
    BaysideCEU.com, #1793, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. BaysideCEU.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 2/4/2026-2/4/2029. This course is offered in the self-paced/distance learning format.
  • The Association For Addiction Professionals NAADAC
    Bayside Continuing Education and Development Provider Number 81892 is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider for educational credits. NAADAC Provider number 81892 is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
  • The National Board For Certified Counselors NBCC
    Bayside Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6088. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Bayside Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

State Approvals

Information

  • Relevance: This course is intended for post doctoral and masters level counselors, social workers and theraptist who work with clients where their faith or lack ther of becomes an intrical part of the mental health and how they address issues.
  • Content Level: Intermediate
  • Course Format: This course is offered as a self-paced distance learning format (reading-based online activity)
  • System Requirements: This course is offered online. Internet connection required.
  • Course Completion Information: To earn continuing education credit, professionals must register and pay the fee for the course.  They must read the content and demonstrate understanding by earning a minimum score of 70 percent on testing materials.  The certificate of completion will be able to be downloaded after the above is completed. Refunds will be granted upon request with the withdrawal of credit for the course. For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call 866-863-4225 or email ContactUs@BaysideCEU.com.
  • CEBroker Course ID: 1318099
  • Credit Hours: 2
Leesa M. Robertson
2 hours
This course is intended for post doctoral and masters level counselors, social workers and theraptist who work with clients where their faith or lack ther of becomes an intrical part of the mental health and how they address issues.
Add to cart $15.00