The fact is that we are all impacted by spirituality.
We are all born. We all will die. We all have spiritual questions.
At some point in everyone's life, our questions become louder, more frequent, more earnest.
Yet, often this time comes only after tragedy or a massive emotional breakdown. Suddenly, at these pivotal moments, many people find themselves looking to the Divine, yet, feel lost in their search. They have never questioned before, they have never pondered these deep, existential fears or questions. They have never had guidance into this unknown space.
Many people are left alone in their confusion and, unfortunately, have nowhere to turn besides religious institutions, which they may not resonate with or may even have been abused by. So they remain alone. These questions are then pushed deeper down within themselves, hidden away. Yet, no matter what, they will emerge.
These vital spiritual questions will emerge through physical, emotional, or psychological manifestations. In other words, they may arise as physical tension, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, worthlessness, and more.
Why?
Because when we do not feel connected to something beyond ourselves we can feel like we are floating through life with no purpose, no ground. We can feel like the god so many people speak of, the god we may have been taught about in childhood, the god we are searching for, has abandoned us, may even have rejected us.
There is no pain greater than the belief that the creator, sheer existence, has rejected us.
As psychotherapists, we must be aware of the possible subconscious impact of spiritual questions and spiritual trauma on our clients. If we don't, we may find ourselves feeling stuck in therapy with them. Even after processing all types of abuse throughout their lives, there may remain within them an immovable insecurity.
Spirituality is often a single question within a therapist's intake paperwork. After that, it is often never addressed again. It's as though we consider spirituality a side hobby or a menial interest that is not relevant to psychotherapy. Psychotherapy education might include a single elective course on spirituality...maybe. Everything else within our education is centered on the mind.
The reality, the fundamental truth is that the mind arises out of existence, our mind does not create it. Our mind creates beliefs, perspectives, and problems within existence. Therefore addressing only issues of the mind completely leaves out the foundation from which it all arises.
In medicine, this would be equivalent to only treating symptoms of cancer and never investigating the foundation, or source, from which they are arising. Treating cancer with ibuprofen won't work...obviously. Yet, when it comes to mental health this is essentially what we are doing.
So many therapists are incredible at what they do. They are nurturing, kind, and compassionate, they help many, many people improve their lives exponentially. I appreciate all of their work deeply. When they leave spirituality out of their practices it is simply not their fault. It was never part of their education, it was never made known within their own lives and, the reality is, they, too, may be struggling with the very same thing.
This problem is much bigger than the individual therapist. It is a pervasive cultural malady that is deeply ingrained in the Western way of life. Yet...that is a topic for another article.
Beginning with my next post, I will be providing step-by-step guidance to begin integrating spirituality into your practice. If you are a therapist and would like to receive personal and/or professional guidance one-on-one, find out more by following this link.
Thank you so much for the time you've spent reading this article. I appreciate you and your presence in the world.
All Good Things.
Sarah Dionne, LICSW, is a psychotherapist and Lightworker in Halifax, MA.
If you are a therapist that would like to work with Sarah around spirituality in psychotherapy, email her.
Sarah is currently hiring two LCSW's and a case manager to join her in her private practice.
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