Development and implementation of a spiritual issues psychoeducational group for those with serious mental illness

Recent research has suggested that religion and spirituality can be a resource or a burden for those with serious mental illness (SMI). Investigators have begun to explore the nature and impact of interventions that focus on spiritual issues in this population. This study describes an innovative program for people with SMI who are dealing with spiritual/religious issues. The program was a seven-week semistructured, psychoeducational intervention in which participants discussed religious resources, spiritual struggles, forgiveness, and hope. This paper also reviews participants' feedback about the group intervention. Suggestions are made that may add to the clinical utility of this program in the future.