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1. How religious beliefs inform one's behavior and thoughts2. What feelings or experiences are generated when one is behaving or thinking according to the religious beliefs3. How does one's religion/faith bring meaning to life4. What intrapersonal struggles related to living out one's faith are experienced
1. How religious beliefs inform one's interactions with partner2. What guidance religious community provides about one's role in marriage3. How one's religion helps or gets in the way of developing and maintaining meaningful relationships (e.g., marriage)4. Beliefs about how partners should (or can) share meaningful religious experiences together
1. Religious practice in family-of-origin2. How religion was used in positive and negative ways in family-of-origin3. How religion/faith guided relationship between parents, and among family members4. Acceptable practices of faith within family-of-origin5. Support from community to practice faith
1. How would the founder of this theory (e.g., Freud, Adler, Perls) view religion? What would he or she say about how the couple's religious beliefs are helping them, or making their problems worse? Do I agree? How might I reconcile possible discrepancies?2. How open would these founders be to various worldviews of clients? How have contemporary leaders conceptualized or addressed religion?3. Are the core beliefs (or values) of my theoretical approach compatible with the couple's religious beliefs? Is the theoretical language similar to what the couple might hear in church or in other religious settings (e.g.., about the source of depression or obsessions, about hope in the future; the meaning of life; forgiveness and interpersonal conflict)?4. If not, how might I work with this couple from another viewpoint? Am I willing to do this?5. How is my alignment with this theoretical approach related to my own religious and spiritual beliefs? How does this translate into my work with clients, religious and secular?6. Am I experiencing dissonance between how I am approaching my work with this couple and what their needs are?7. What am I willing to do differently if my theoretical approach cannot be merged with the beliefs of my clients (e.g., alter techniques, consciously monitor my worldview, adopt other theoretical-based techniques)?