Speaking Pragmatically: Religious Discourse and Counseling Discourse in the Lives and Work of Counselors

Grounded theory analysis of data obtained in 10 interviews with Roman Catholic Christian professional counselors identified six themes. Three themes were common to all interviews: the value and beauty faith; autonomy obedience; healing, renewal, call. other themes, appearing topics both religion counseling within individual interviews, integrated whole, relational concerns, meshing theories. Results established that participants’ faith religious practices influenced their careers clinical choices, vice versa. Pragmatic philosophy, foundational grounded theory, parallels existential/humanistic thought insisting on importance human agent, such as counselor, meaning decision making. It thus provides a critical framework for considering significance findings profession.