Breathing Soul Back Into Therapy Bill O’Hanlon, M.S.

Breathing Soul Back Into Therapy For a free copy of these PowerPoint slides, visit: Click on FREE STUFF Then click on SLIDES Wait about a week for the slides to show up; meanwhile there are others up there you can have while you are waiting On that page is a link to sign up for my free monthly newsletter, filled with interesting research, cool and moving videos and free handouts

Spirituality and Psychotherapy  Psyche=Soul [Greek]  Therapy=Nurse/cure [Greek]

Blocks to using spiritual resources and sensibilities in counseling and therapy Freud’s legacy of negativity towards religion Behaviorism’s “black box” approach Restraints from our training Religious traumas that bias us away from using spiritual resources Fear of imposing our values and beliefs on people Not knowing how to bring it in in an effective or non-impositional way

The 3 Cs of Spirituality  Connection  Compassion  Contribution

Connection To something bigger within and beyond the person

Pathways to Connection  Core self

Pathways to Connection  Body

Pathways to Connection  Another being

Pathways to Connection  Community/groups

Pathways to Connection  Nature

Connection to Nature Children diagnosed with ADHD were more calm, more focused and more able to follow directions after spending time in a “green” setting like a park or backyard. Frances E. Kuo and Andrea Faber Taylor, A Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence From a National Study, American Journal of Public Health, Sep. 2004; 94:

Connection to Nature  Post-operative patients with rooms overlooking deciduous trees healed more quickly and had less need for pain medication than patients who viewed a brick wall.  Dental patients who stared at a large mural of a natural scene had lower blood pressure and less anxiety than those who didn’t.  Inmates whose cell windows face the prison yard made 24% more sick-call visits than those whose cells looked outward on rolling farmland and trees. Frumkin, Howard, American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 20(3), 2001

Pathways to Connection  Art Creating art Observing or participating in others’ art

Pathways to Connection Personal  Core self  Body Interpersonal  Another being  Community/groups Transpersonal  Nature  Art  Higher power/bigger meaning/God

Assessing the 7 pathways  How do you typically connect to something bigger within or beyond you?  How do you connect with your deeper self or soul?  How do you connect with or get in touch with your body?  How do you connect deeply with others?  What places or times in nature are the best for you?  What is your favorite art form or activity?  What are the times and ways you have felt the most expansive?  What music has touched your soul the most deeply?  If you were to create a spiritual retreat, where would it be located?  What book would you say has most touched your soul?  Who do you feel most connected to?  What group do you feel most a part of?

Personal, Interpersonal and Transpersonal Connections Personal Interpersonal Transpersonal God Higher power Universe Another Community Family Body Soul Cosmic Consciousness Brahman Allah Great Spirit Nature Tao Goddess

Spirituality Assessment in Therapy Past Present Future

Spiritual History/Background  Have you ever had religious or spiritual beliefs or practices?  What have been your religious affiliations, if any?  Have those been helpful in any way?  Harmful in any way?  Any traumas connected with religion?  Have you ever felt connected to something more than yourself, like nature, another person, humanity, the Universe, God, etc.?  When or how?  What has been your most profound spiritual experience, if any?

Spiritual History/Background  What did each of your parents teach you or show you about religion or spirituality?  Who else, if anyone, influenced you in regard to religion or spirituality?  If you ever went away from religion or spirituality and then returned, how did that happen?  What would you say is the single most profound experience of your life so far?  What was the period in your life when you most relied on religion, spirituality or faith for strength?  What did your family show you in the area of service or compassion?  What charitable or volunteer activities happened in your family?

Spiritual History/Background  Do a spiritual/religious genogram tracing family connections and experiences with spirituality or religion.  This may detail religious affiliations or family history of compassion, contributions/service and connections.

Current Spiritual Resources/Practices  Are there any spiritual or religious practices that you do regularly?  Is there any religious or spiritual figure or activity that you think would be helpful for you in this situation?  What role, if any, does religion/spirituality play in your life currently?  What would you say is the single most important ingredient for a spiritual life?  If you had to pick the most sacred spot you’ve ever seen, where would it be?  If you were to name the best aspect of religion, what would it be?  What do you think is the worst aspect of religion?  Describe the time or activity that makes you feel the most spiritual.

Current Spiritual Resources/Practices  What do you do or where do you go to recharge your batteries when you get a chance?  What kind of artistic activities do you enjoy (doing or watching)?  How do you connect with other people?  How do you connect with something more than yourself?  Do you think you have a purpose for being alive? If so, what is it?

Current Spiritual Resources/Practices  How are you and God (or the universe or life) getting along?  Who is the most spiritual person you know?  Who is the least spiritual person you know?  If you had to name something that always seems to call or speak to your soul, what would it be?  What is God like, if you believe in God’s existence?

Future Spiritual Hopes and Intentions  What kind of spiritual or religious activities would you like to do in the future, if any?  Is there any area of your inner or spiritual life you would like to develop more?  Is there any spiritual or religious figure that you would like to use as a model for you? In what way?  What do you think happens to us when we die?  What is the one more thing you could add to your life that you think would make you more spiritual?  If you were to die tragically tomorrow, who, other than blood relatives, would you want to raise your children?  If you found out you were terminally ill and could do one thing to put your soul in order, what would it be?

Contribution/ServiceContribution/Service Mitzvah therapy The African Violet Queen Sol Gordon’s Abuse Victim

Ghandi The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Albert Schweitzer You must give something to your fellow men. Even if it is a little thing, do something for those who have need of help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of giving... The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?

The Talmud The highest form of wisdom is kindness.

Contribution Is there anywhere your client could be of service or make a contribution that would help them make amends or heal wounds? Where do they give of themselves? If they had to name their most significant contribution to helping another person or people, what would they say? If they had to name the cause that they feel most passionate about, what would it be? Become aware of some social injustice or victim situation that moves or touches you. Every time you experience some recurrent problem, do one thing to contribute to the relief of the victim’s suffering or to righting some social injustice. It may be writing a letter, making a donation of money or time to some charitable group, praying, or some other action you are moved to.

W.H. Auden We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don’t know.

The 3 Cs of Spirituality Connection Compassion Contribution

1. Be a Fundamentalist – Make sure the Fun always comes before the mental. Realize that life is a situation comedy that will never be canceled. A laugh track has been provided, and the reason we are put in the material world is to get more material. Have a good laugh twice a day, and that will ensure regular hilarity. 2. Remember that each of us have been given a special gift, just for entering – so you are already a winner! 3. The most powerful tool on the planet today is Tell-A-Vision. That is where I tell a vision to you, and you tell a vision to me. That way, if we don’t like the programming we’re getting, we can simply change the channel. 4. Life is like photography–you use the negative to develop. And, no matter what adversity you face, be reassured: Of course God loves you. He’s just not ready to make a commitment. 5. It is true. As we go through life thinking heavy thoughts, thought particles tend to get caught between the ears, causing a condition called truth decay. So be sure to use mental floss twice a day. And when you’re tempted to practice tantrum yoga, remember what we teach in Swami’s Absurdiveness Training class: “Don’t get even, get odd.” 6. If we want world peace, we must let go of our attachments and truly live like nomads. That’s where I no mad at you, you no mad at me. That way, there’ll surely be nomadness on the planet. A little peace here, a little peace there, pretty soon all the peaces will fit together to make one big peace everywhere. Swami Beyondadanda’s Guidelines for Enlightenment

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