An Adlerian Commentary on Atheism as a Multicultural Variable in Psychotherapy

Atheism represents an understudied religious multicultural variable within psychotherapy and psychology. This paper provides an Adlerian commentary on atheist populations, backgrounds, identities, discrimination, and culture while investigating the ties between religion or nonreligion on health and wellness. Psychology has historically oscillated between positive and negative outlooks toward religion. However, current trends indicate an acceptance of the religious and the spiritual as important mental health variables. To keep up with this trend requires higher levels of clinician self-understanding and training. The fields of psychotherapy and psychology should acknowledge and value atheism, including the needs of the atheist client, as a multicultural variable within the spiritual and religious domains.