Meeting God in “thin places”

Subjective experiences of spirituality accompanying clients through difficult life events

Abstract

This research highlights the complexities of counselling clients’ subjective experiences of spirituality that accompany difficult life events. Two spiritual and cultural metaphors are employed: “Te Kore Kore”, a place in the Māori creation story of nothingness and potential for life (Marsden, 2003); and the Celtic concept of “thin places”, describing moments of feeling especially close to God (O’Donohue, 1999). In this small-scale qualitative research study, six counselling clients shared their experience of these domains through semi- structured interviews employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) double hermeneutic approach, which revealed rich metaphorical landscapes of lived experience, common themes and hidden gems. Personal processes of surrender, acceptance, and trust in God were described, leading to longer lasting improvements in physical, psychological, and spiritual health. Spiritual practices such as mindfulness, contemplation, and connection to sacred spaces in nature were found to cultivate awareness of God’s closeness during difficult times, which led to deepened relationships with God. As participants were working with a counsellor, spiritual director, or medical support person during their difficult life experiences, this article has implications for raising spiritual awareness in counselling practice and suggests the importance of future research into the shared spiritual truths and experiences of Te Tiriti partners.