Question
What unique challenges do agnostic clients face regarding grief and mental health?
Answer
Agnostic clients, characterized by open-mindedness and a lack of certainty in spiritual beliefs, often experience mood and anxiety concerns rooted in existential ambiguity and uncertainty. Their worldview, which embraces not knowing and remaining open to possibilities, can make it difficult for them to find the psychological safety and predictability that the human brain naturally craves. This lack of certainty can be particularly triggering during periods of grief, as agnostic individuals may not have a structured or communal spiritual framework to provide comfort and support.
Clinicians should approach agnostic clients with heightened sensitivity, recognizing that their belief system is a core value rather than a self-inflicted problem. Supportive interventions may include offering permission-based suggestions and inviting clients to explore various spiritual or communal experiences without pressure.
Agnostic clients are at risk for poor mental health outcomes when their spiritual beliefs lack coherence or social support, often finding themselves marginalized by both secular and religious communities. This disenfranchisement can make it harder for them to seek and receive help for grief, highlighting the importance of affirming, nonjudgmental, and individualized clinical support.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, ‘Agnostics and Atheists- Considerations for Grief Counseling,’ presented by Ashley McLimans, MS, LMHCP.
