The last relationship that the patient describes as meaningful is her relationship with her partner. Aside from the past abuse, the patient feels she is safe and supported when with her partner. And while, from clinical standpoint, …show more content…
However, that is not to say that the patient does not have any spiritual or religious beliefs; she simply has never reported any beliefs related to spirituality or religiosity. In fact, when the patient was asked whether or not she held have spiritual beliefs, she replied by stating the last time she went to church was to attend the funeral of her late aunt. Exploring this aspect further with the patient may be beneficial because many individuals with substance use issues find strength in acknowledging and putting trust into a high power. On the other hand, depending on the patient’s experience and her true beliefs, she may believe that a high power does not exist and is reluctant to share that because she believes it would be deterring to the counselor. In which case, promoting spirituality may weaken the therapeutic