Overview

This is a comprehensive guide that equips mental health professionals with the research, techniques, and skills for effective practice with nonreligious clients—one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the US. This book provides a historical background, highlights the unique strengths and challenges of being nonreligious, and offers practical recommendations for mental health specialists to better serve this population. It focuses on the intersections of race, gender, class, and sexualities among nonreligious individuals and challenges the negative biases and stigmas that exist about nonreligious people in both the general public and among mental health professionals. Filled with visual aids, concept maps, and hands-on tools, this book provides an essential resource for mental health educators, clinicians, researchers, and advocates.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dena Abbott
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.454kg
ISBN:  

9781538184622

ISBN 10:   1538184621
Pages:   384
Publication Date:   07 August 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Unspecified
Availability:   To order  

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Christian Hegemony & Western Approaches to Mental Health Care Dena Abbott & Millie Myers Christian Norms in Everyday Life Christian Influences on Mental Health Care Strategies for Uprooting Christian Hegemony in Mental Health Care Chapter 2: The Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated Defining Nonreligion Trends in Nonreligious Identification Across Demographic Groups Strategies for Assessing Nonreligiousness in Research & Clinical Practice Chapter 3: The Dones: Deconverting from Faith Defining Deconversion Paths to Deconversion Who Deconverts? Supporting Clients Who Question Their Faith Chapter 4: The Nones: Nonreligion Among the Never Religious Raised Without Religion Who are the Nones? Fostering Wellness and Community Among Nones Chapter 5: Anti-Atheist Stigma & Christian Nationalism Kristen Kobes du Mez Atheists as Other in the United States Stereotypes of Atheists Psychological Consequences of Anti-Atheist Stigma Supporting Nonreligious People Experiencing Anti-Atheist Discrimination Chapter 6: Nonreligion & Health David Speed The Problem with Associating Religiousness & Health The Assumption that Atheists are Unhealthy Atheists & Theists: What Promotes Health? Chapter 7: Conducting Research with Nonreligious People Considerations in Quantitative Research Considerations in Qualitative Research Considerations in Mixed Methods Research Chapter 8: Clinical Practice with Nonreligious People of Color Candace R. M. Gorham Racism and Christianity in the United States What Draws People of Color to Nonbelief? Challenges POC Face as Nonbelievers Chapter 9: LGBTQIA+ Nonbelievers Sexual Orientation and Nonreligion Gender Diversity and Nonreligion Community Among Nonreligious LGBTQIA+ Nonbelievers Chapter 10: Patriarchy & Nonreligion Nonbelief as an Alternative to Patriarchal Religion Feminism Among Nonbelievers Gender Dynamics Among Organized Nonbelievers Chapter 11: Social Class & Nonreligion Theories of Education and Intelligence Prevalence of Nonbelief by Social Class The Influence of Classism Chapter 12: Belongingness and Organized Nonbelief Melanie Brewster The Benefits of a Community of Nonbelievers Barriers to Forming or Joining Nonbelieving Communities Partnering with Organized Nonbelief to Advocate for Clients Chapter 13: Counseling Nonreligious Clients Experiencing Grief Jacob Sawyer Traditional Models Grief Nonreligious and Nonspiritual Grieving Toward a Secular Framework for Supporting Grief Chapter 14: Spiritual and Religious Abuse and Trauma Kathryn Keller The Nature of Religious and Spiritual (R/S) Trauma R/S Trauma Among Nonbelievers Trauma-Informed Care for Nonbelievers with R/S Trauma Chapter 15: Future Directions Dena Abbott Toward A Strengths-Based Conceptualization of Nonreligion Advancing the Study of Nonreligious Mental Health Advocating for Nonreligious Clients and Communities References Index About the Contributors

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Author Information

Dena Abbott is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Nebraska and an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s Counseling Psychology program. Funded by the Explaining Atheism program, she co-created “Unbelief Within Marginalized Communities,” a project aimed at understanding the causal origins of nonbelief among diverse atheists. She has published several journal articles related to the mental health of nonreligious U.S. Americans. She is dedicated to destigmatizing atheism, highlighting the strengths of nonbelievers, and promoting equity for nonreligious people. You can follow her work on X @DrDenaAbbott and at drdenaabbott.com.

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