Elder Lance B. Wickman spoke to a gathering of employees of LDS Family Services on the topic of “Ethical Challenges to Faith- Based Counseling: Preserving Religious Freedom in an Increasingly Secular Profession.” I saw the write up in the Deseret news this afternoon.

As a student in a masters of social work program, and a Mormon, this is a topic that is important to me, but I am concerned at the approach. Last year I attended a student break out session for LDS counselors and psychotherapists, where the group leader started a discussion on how LDS therapists can deal with value conflicts. I raised my hand and answered that when I’m with a client, my values are irrelevant, because one of the core beliefs of social work is the right to self determination. It’s my job to support a client in their goals and values, not impose mine on them. The group leader responded with “well, that’s what they teach you in school”.

We all bring our values into situations. Our values inform how we see the world around us, and it would be impossible to totally set them aside. However, a therapist has to learn to be aware of their own values and not let those values force a judgement on a client (self determination people).

I wrote a very long response piece to the article, but honestly, it was exhausting. There is so much fear about losing privilege. Sometimes when you lose your privilege or other people start to enjoy the same privilege, it can feel hostile. It feels like a loss. Sometimes, if you are working in a professional field, there are going to be times when your personal values, and your professional ethics clash. You are going to have to figure out how to balance that. Maybe it will mean that you set aside your personal values, because you recognize that it’s not about you, it’s about your client. Maybe it means that you will change professions so that you can continue to maintain your value system. That would be a huge loss, but it will not have been the first time in the history of the world that people have been asked to sacrifice in the name of their religion. Sometimes you are going to have to remember that the divinely instituted moral agency we claim, means that other people can choose things differently than you would. This is part of the plan, and as a therapist, your job would be to support the individual in exploring how their choices match with their value system, and it would be unethical to try to push your own value system on them.

I’ll sum up with a call to LDS mental health workers. Live your religion. Make it part of who you are. Learn to appreciate your clients for who they are. Meet them where they’re at. Use their terminology and their belief system to work from. That’s what you are trained for and what distinguishes you from a caring bishop, visiting or home teacher.

In two years on internship, I haven’t once had a client come in who was struggling over loss of their right to practice their Mormonism. What I have seen, over and over again, are clients who have experienced shunning, shaming, and outright cruelty for not living the way other LDS friends, family, and neighbors think they ought to be. If Elder Wickman is going to throw around the term “cultural bigots”, we might do well to observe the beam in our own eyes, after all, that’s really the only thing we have control over- our own behavior.

Ending on a positive note, I’ll share four action items Elder Wickman gave, which I personally found helpful and inspiring:

One, become informed about religious freedom issues within one’s profession, and start by visiting the website religiousfreedom.lds.org. Two, speak up with courage and civility. “As you learn to articulate your position with kindness and conviction, you will find that discussions about religious freedom become less intimidating and more natural.” Three, “as President [Dieter F.] Uchtdorf would say, lift where you stand. This is critical. You don’t need to run for congress or start a political movement. Just get involved in the political, community and especially professional organizations around you.” Four, be an “ ‘example of the believers’ so that others will see your good works, experience your genuine friendship and be sympathetic toward your concerns.”