Breathing Soul Back Into Therapy

Breathing Soul Back Into Therapy

Bill O’Hanlon, M.S.

Breathing Soul Back Into TherapyBreathing Soul Back Into Therapy

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Spirituality and PsychotherapySpirituality and Psychotherapy

Psyche=Soul [Greek]

Therapy=Nurse/cure

[Greek]

Blocks to using spiritual resources and sensibilities in counseling and therapyBlocks to using spiritual resources and sensibilities in counseling and therapy

Freud’s legacy of negativity towards religion

Behaviorism’s “black box” approachRestraints from our trainingReligious traumas that bias us away

from using spiritual resourcesFear of imposing our values and

beliefs on peopleNot knowing how to bring it in in an

effective or non-impositional way

The 3 Cs of SpiritualityThe 3 Cs of Spirituality

ConnectionCompassionContribution

ConnectionConnection

To something bigger

within and beyond the person

Pathways to ConnectionPathways to ConnectionCore self

Pathways to ConnectionPathways to ConnectionBody

Pathways to ConnectionPathways to ConnectionAnother being

Pathways to ConnectionPathways to ConnectionCommunity/groups

Pathways to ConnectionPathways to ConnectionNature

Connection to NatureConnection 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: 1580 - 1586

Connection to NatureConnection 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 ConnectionPathways to ConnectionArt

• Creating art• Observing or participating in others’ art

Pathways to ConnectionPathways to ConnectionPersonalCore selfBody

InterpersonalAnother beingCommunity/groups

TranspersonalNatureArtHigher power/bigger meaning/God

Assessing the 7 pathwaysAssessing 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 ConnectionsPersonal, Interpersonal and Transpersonal Connections

Personal

Interpersonal

Transpersonal

God

Higher power

Universe

AnotherCommunity

Family

Body

Soul

CosmicConsciousness

Brahman

Allah

Great Spirit

Nature

Tao

Goddess

Spirituality Assessment in TherapySpirituality Assessment in Therapy

• Past• Present• Future

Spiritual History/BackgroundSpiritual 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/BackgroundSpiritual 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/BackgroundSpiritual 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/PracticesCurrent 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/PracticesCurrent 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/PracticesCurrent 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 IntentionsFuture 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/ServiceContribution/ServiceContribution/Service

Mitzvah therapyThe African Violet Queen

Sol Gordon’s Abuse Victim

GhandiGhandi The best way to find yourself

is to lose yourself in the service of others.

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

others?

The TalmudThe Talmud

The highest form of wisdom is kindness.

ContributionContributionIs 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. AudenW.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 SpiritualityThe 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

Swami Beyondadanda’s Guidelines for Enlightenment

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Bill O’Hanlon, M.S., LMFTPossibilities223 N. Guadalupe #278Santa Fe, NM 87501Bill@billohanlon.comwww.billohanlon.comwww.getyourbookwritten.comwww.paidpublicspeaker.com

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