Integrating Faith and Spirituality into therapy— Helping you Balance the Big “both and” of mind & Soul

Do faith and spirituality play an important role in your story, positively or negatively? Faith, spirituality, and religion and the communities associated can hold significant power in our hearts and minds. This power can foster beautiful moments, networks of support and understanding, and encounters with the Divine. Conversely, these same communities can also be sources of great pain, destruction, and trauma.

Faith and Therapy: Navigating Client Concerns

When faith and therapy are brought up in the same sentence, there’s often two reaction, some clients are fearful that they aren’t allowed to bring their faith and spirituality into the therapeutic room for feeling like these deeply held beliefs, and experiences will be dismissed belittled or ignored, and with equally strong fear, some clients worry about the God being forced into the room and into their beliefs. Our goal is to do neither. Will want to meet you in the religious and existential reality of your story.

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The Importance of Spirituality and Religion in Healthcare

Cultural Shifts in Faith and Spirituality

Our culture is experiencing a change in how faith, religion, and spirituality are practiced and discussed. Despite these changes, faith, spirituality, and religion remain important aspects of the human experience. Recent research supports the importance of integrating matters of spirituality and religion into healthcare treatment.

Existential Mattering.

In the field of positive psychology, the concept of “existential mattering”—or simply “mattering”—plays a significant role in the lives of individuals who report higher levels of meaning, joy, and purpose (1). This sense of mattering is also essential for building resilience.

A recent study from Harvard highlights the significance of spirituality in healthcare, for individuals facing illnesses (2). Researchers concluded that addressing spiritual needs is crucial for providing comprehensive care, as it involves considering emotional and existential aspects alongside physical health. By fostering discussions about spirituality, healthcare providers can make better-informed medical decisions and enhance patient connections, ultimately improving overall well-being. The study advocates for an inclusive approach that recognizes the value of both organized religion and personal spirituality, suggesting that integrating spiritual care into health services offers patients a sense of meaning and support.

Our passion is to help you be better integrated, by bridging the gap between the spiritual and the physical, the psychological and the theological.

As practicing Christians, we have witnessed first hand both the beauty and the damage that can arise from participating in a religious community. As therapists, we have worked with pastors and religious leaders navigating personal and community-based trauma. We also assist individuals of all ages wrestling with their religious beliefs and their relation to identity.

We are passionate about helping clients integrate and utilize the rich resources of their faith traditions. We strive to be a safe space for individuals to work through their questions, uncertainties, pain, and religious trauma.

Openly Bring These important parts of yourself to Therapy

Whether you identify as a believer, non-believer, atheist, agnostic, or hold other beliefs, we encourage you to bring these aspects of your experience and beliefs into therapy. We specialize in integrating these existential components into your mental health journey.

Integration Techniques

  • Philosophical Insights: Engaging with philosophical perspectives on the human condition, covering topics such as suffering, time, death, and meaning.

  • Utilizing Scripture: Incorporating scripture from your faith tradition.

  • Open Exploration: Remaining open and present in each session to discover new and positive developments within you. In light of facing difficult existential realities.

Whether you wish to discuss Niche, your experience on the wellness retreat in Boulder, or what you heard in the sermon on Sunday Or the synagogue on Saturday. If you need to process questions and pain stemming from your past and present religious experiences. We invite you to share these parts of your story in our work together.

(1) Costin, V., & Vignoles, V. L. (2020). Meaning is about mattering: Evaluating coherence, purpose, and existential mattering as precursors of meaning in life judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(4), 864–884. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000225 (https://awspntest.apa.org/doi/10.1037/pspp0000225)

(2) “Spirituality in Serious Illness and Health,” Tracy Balboni, Tyler VanderWeele, Stephanie Doan-Soares, Katelyn Long, Betty Ferrell, George Fitchett, Harold Koenig, Paul Bain, Christina Puchalski, Karen Steinhauser, Daniel Sulmasy, and Howard K. Koh, JAMA, online July 12, 2022, doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.11086.

Customized Approaches to intigrated Treatment

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for your work. However, there are effective methods that, when applied with care and nuance to your life, can strengthen and restore your ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life. I offer the time and attention to apply general wisdom and proven methods of counseling to your specific reality.

Take the First Step

Move towards integration! Schedule a free consultation today.

What to expect from your Consultation & therapy session

  • During the initial meeting, I will conduct a comprehensive assessment to get to know you better. We’ll discuss your current concerns, emotional challenges, and goals for therapy. This session helps me tailor the therapy to your unique postpartum experience.

  • Common approaches I use include:

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—This helps reframe negative thought patterns and build healthier coping mechanisms.

    • Mindfulness practices—These are techniques for staying present and managing stress through meditation or breathing exercises.

    • Trauma-informed therapy (TIT)—For those dealing with birth trauma or intense anxiety, TIT provides a safe space for healing.

    • Integration of coping strategies—We’ll work together to apply practical tools in your daily life, addressing:

    • Anxiety management

  • I will regularly evaluate your progress. Sessions will include reflection on improvements and adjustments to strategies, ensuring you experience measurable growth over time.