Naming ceremonies

Domain XV · Nature, philosophy, social & rites of passage

What it is

Naming ceremonies are not a psychotherapy. They are rites, religious or secular, by which a family and community give a child a name, welcome the child into a family, faith or community, and recognise the adults who will support the child. Humanists UK describes its non-religious naming ceremony as…

Format

• The sources give no session counts for therapy around a naming rite; none are stated here. The phases below are the therapist's own procedure, built on the CFI and the ritual literature.
• Format: individual, couple or family sessions; a child or adolescent may be seen with parents. Where a client's difficulty centres on the rite or faith, the DSM-5-TR condition Religious or Spiritual Problem may be recorded with ICD-10-CM code Z65.8, which lists religious or spiritual problem under…

Who practises it, and how they are trained or regulated

• Humanist naming ceremony (Humanists UK). Led by a humanist celebrant, ideally from the Humanists UK Humanist Ceremonies network, whose celebrants Humanists UK trains and accredits. The celebrant meets the family, gets to know its story and writes a bespoke script. Common elements: an introduction of the child by name; parents' hopes and promises; supporting adults called guideparents, mentors or guardians (any…

Questions to explore with your client

• What drew you to it, and what are you hoping it will change?
• Is there physical contact? Was it explained beforehand, and do you feel free to say no or stop at any point?
• Does it involve any substance, plant preparation, remedy or supplement? Has your doctor or prescriber been told, especially about any medication you take?
• Is it a group, retreat or community? How do they respond if someone wants to leave or raises a concern?
• How do you and the practitioner understand what is happening, in spiritual or cultural terms? Is that a source of comfort, worry, or both?
• Who runs it, and what training or registration do they hold?
• What actually happens in a session or meeting, and how often?
• What does it cost, and is there pressure to commit to more?
• How do you feel afterwards, in the hours and days that follow?
• Does it fit with, or clash with, the work we do here?

What practitioners of it watch for

• choosing supporters to placate relatives; hurt in those not chosen. Working: parents feel less alone.
• cultural deference that delays protective action. Working: risks are assessed promptly and proportionately.
• the client experiencing a refusal as rejection. Working: the meaning of the invitation becomes useful material.
• minimising (“it was fine”) after a conflict; new estrangements. Working: the client integrates the day into the family story.
• catastrophising; overcontrol of every detail. Working: the client can picture the day and name one thing they look forward to.

When to involve someone else

• New or worsening physical symptoms, or advice to stop or change prescribed medication: involve the client's doctor or prescriber.
• Signs of coercion, isolation from family and friends, escalating costs or secrecy: discuss openly and consider safeguarding.
• A crisis or thoughts of suicide: follow your crisis protocol. In the US, call or text 988; in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans on 116 123.

Drawn automatically from the guide's own sections. Stay curious: neither endorse nor dismiss what the client values, and check anything that matters against the full guide and its sources. Not medical advice.