RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY WITHIN THE SIKH RELIGION: HOW COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN HELP Mandeep Kaur, BSc (Hons) A thesis is submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor in Counselling Psychology. November 2017 This work or any part thereof has not previously been presented in any form to the University or any other body, whether for the purposes of assessment, publication or for any other purpose (unless otherwise specified). Save for any express acknowledgements, references or bibliographies cited in the work, I confirm that the intellectual content of the work is the result of my own efforts and of no other person. The right of Mandeep Kaur to be identified as author of this work is asserted in accordance with ss77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. At this date copyright is owned by the author. Signature …………………………………………………………………. Date …………………………………………………………………………. 1 | Page RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY WITHIN THE SIKH RELIGION: HOW COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN HELP Abstract This study investigated the spiritual and religious experience of members of the Sikh community with a focus on how such an experience affects their sense of wellbeing. Consequently, the central aim of this study is to explore how Sikhs use religion and spirituality with coping. This was examined by exploring how Sikhs deal with stressful events and how these impacted on their wellbeing. The thesis was comprised of two parts. Study one comprised of the thematic analysis of questionnaires. 56 UK based Sikh participants (23 males and 33 females; age range 17-62) took part. The findings from study one speculated that the older age group appeared more accepting of their religion and spirituality suggesting maybe they are less occupied by a quest to explore their life through religion and spirituality than the 20-30 year old age group. Consequently, study two looked more closely at participants aged between 20- 30 year olds to further explore their lived experience. In line with the IPA methodology, a small well-defined opportunity sample of six people (4 males and 2 females) in the Sikh faith, who have been practicing their religion for at least 2-3 years and between the ages of 20-30 were invited to participate in the interviews. Four superordinate themes were found which represented an overall story. The themes were namely, religious and spiritual struggles; religion and spirituality assisting with the development of self and identity; spiritual striving and aids to well-being: religious/spiritual coping. It is hoped that findings from this research will help to inform our understanding of how Sikh client’s religious and spiritual beliefs influences their wellbeing as well as incorporating this 2 | Page knowledge into the therapy process to make good clinical judgements. This study will enhance research in counselling psychology with regards to religion and spirituality and mental health specifically with regards to young Sikh’s. Key words: Religiosity, Spiritual, Sikh, Mental Health, Well-being, Counselling 3 | Page CONTENTS PAGE Declaration 1 Abstract 2 Contents page 4 Acknowledgements page 9 Confidentiality 10 CHAPTER 1: Introduction & Literature Review Introduction 11 Literature Review 15 Overview of religion and spirituality 15 Spirituality, Religion & Mental Health 18 Counselling Psychology with respect to Spirituality 23 Coping, Religious coping and Stress 25 Emotional regulation 26 Development of identity 27 Sikhs 29 Sikh identity 30 Sikhs belief about mental illness 31 Sikhs and Mental Well-being Literature 32 Conclusion 34 CHAPTER 2: Methodology A qualitative approach 37 Overview of methodology 38 Philosophical standpoint 38 Justification for mixed methods 40 4 | Page Ethical Considerations across both studies 42 Reflexivity 44 CHAPTER 3: Study 1 Justification for Thematic Analysis 47 Participants 49 Design and Materials 50 Procedure 51 Method of Analysis 52 What will count as a Theme 54 Results & Discussion 55 Self and Society/External World 56 Purpose/Ultimate Aim 58 Extrinsic 58 Intrinsic 60 Guidance for living 63 Coping with Difficulties 63 Daily guidance 64 Control 66 Divide 67 Self and the Universe/Internal World 69 Connection 71 Internal and External God 71 Development of Self 73 Offers/Benefits 76 Aim/Purpose to life 76 5 | Page Tools/Activities 78 Experience & Abilities 80 Conclusion 82 CHAPTER 4: Study 2 Introduction 86 Justification for Thematic Analysis 87 Participants 89 Materials 90 Procedure 91 Method of Analysis 92 Results and Discussion 94 Interpretative idiographic analysis 94 Harinder 95 Inderjit 96 Sandeep 97 Pritam 98 Kiran 99 Balwinder 100 Superordinate theme 1 101 Superordinate theme 2 112 Guided by others or society 112 Guided by religious/spiritual principles 122 Superordinate theme 3 127 Superordinate theme 4 136 Religious rituals as tools 137 6 | Page Sikh philosophical perspectives as guides 140 Conclusion 143 CHAPTER 5: Overall Discussion Introduction 147 Research findings in relation to existing literature 148 Implications for Clinical Practice 153 Methodological Strengths and Limitations of Study 156 Recommendations for further research 159 Conclusion 160 CHAPTER 6: Reflections Reason for choosing topic 162 Changing the direction of the study 163 Research skills I have you learnt throughout my research 163 Reflections from undertaking qualitative research and interviews 164 How my own identity changed as a result of the research journey 165 How it will inform my own practice and what I would personally take 166 away CHAPTER 7: References and Appendices References 168 Appendices Appendix 1: SAS and BSEC approval 194 Appendix 2: BSEC approved Res 20a Form 195 Appendix 3: Questionnaire/Survey for Study one 201 Appendix 4: Letter to Local Sikh Temples 203 Appendix 5: Poster 204 7 | Page Appendix 6: Message/Email to Forums or social media 205 Appendix 7: Information sheet for Study one 206 Appendix 8: Consent form for Study one 207 Appendix 9: Semi-structured Interview Schedule for Study two 208 Appendix 10: Information sheet for Study two 209 Appendix 11: Consent form for Study two 210 Appendix 12: Table of themes for participants for Study two 211 Appendix 13: Master themes table for Study two 212 Appendix 14: Personal Reflections for Individual Participants for 214 Study two 8 | Page Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without my two ‘sidekicks’ encouraging and supporting me along the way – My lovely husband Sukhjit Singh and my lovely brother Sukhnam Singh. They gave me the kick I needed just at the right time and in the most compassionate way. I would like to give special thanks to Dr Jo Chen Wilson who has been my consistent, supportive and empathic supervisor. She has been motivating and incredibly supportive when I had difficulties throughout the thesis. I would also like to thank my old and new supervisors for their guidance and knowledge – Dr John Bergin, Dr Nicky Hart and my most recent Dr Lamprini Mangiorou. I would like to thank Dr Wendy Nicholls for her invaluable feedback on my final draft. I would like to express my sincerest thanks for the contribution of my participants whose involvement and inspiration has motivated me to complete my thesis. 9 | Page CONFIDENTIALITY The contents of this Doctoral Portfolio has been appropriately anonymised in order to ensure participant confidentiality and anonymity. All identifiable information has been removed including participant names which have been replaced with pseudonyms. 10 | Page CHAPTER 1: Introduction & Literature Review Counselling psychology operates within a multicultural context requiring that those practicing take steps to increase their multicultural competencies such as the black and ethnic minority groups. According to the Professional Practice Guidelines of the BPS (2005) counselling psychologists are required to “make themselves knowledgeable about the diverse experiences of the clients they work with and challenge the views of people who pathologise on the basis of such aspects as....racial identity and religious and spiritual views (page 7)” as well as to “respect the diversity of beliefs and values held within society...(page 3).” The central aim of this study is to explore how Sikhs use religion and spirituality with coping with stress and its effect on their wellbeing. It is hoped that this study will provide therapists knowledge of Sikh’s and their religious and spiritual views to inform their therapeutic practice. It is important to state that throughout the study Sikhs will be described as an ethnic group as reported in the Census summary report (2017) or “South Asian”. As Sikhs originate from India, Punjab, they form part of the global classification of “South Asian.” These terms will be used interchangeably throughout the thesis. It is unlikely for counselling psychologists to continuously and effectively develop their multicultural competencies if research into religious and spiritual views held by individuals from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds remains scarce. Sikhism was recorded at being 0.8% of the UK population, and is most strongly represented in the West Midlands when compared to the rest of the UK (Census, 2011). It has been reported that this ethnic group has been under 11 | Page researched particularly in relation to counselling (Sandhu, 2004; Morjaria-Keval, 2006). Based on the national mental illness statistics, 1 in 4 people in the UK will suffer at least one diagnosable episode of mental illness (McManus,