There was a time where it was not uncommon to imagine the picture of a busy hospital where the doctor or surgeon does the rounds and asks about “the gall bladder” in bed 6. Of course, the doctor may want to know the post operative recovery of someone who just had their gall bladder removed. But to inform the recovery plan of this patient, we really want to know about “Mrs Jones in bed 6” who just had her gall bladder removed:- perhaps she has young children, will she be able to lift them? And how soon will she have abdominal strength returning, what demands will she face at home, what supports does she have in place? The WHOLE of Mrs Jones is a far more comprehensive consideration that will inform relevant assessment of her readiness for discharge from the hospital and her ongoing recovery. We also know that her mindset will impact her recovery a great deal – the psychology of the person, their optimism, their resilience, their passion for life and feeling of purpose all influence the healing of the body.
In recent decades, both medicine and psychology have moved toward a more rounded view of health and both disciplines tend to encourage the biopsychosocial model of wellbeing. This has encouraged a more comprehensive, patient-centred approach, although in reality many practices are so pushed for time and resources that this approach does not always land in service delivery. However, I believe this model still stops short of a truly wholistic consideration. More recently, there is growing interest and exploration in extending to consider biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health and wellbeing.
To be clear, I am referring to the importance of spiritual awareness for those who are pondering in this manner. I view this as a broader philosophical pondering that that which is answered by traditional organized religion. Not that I am criticizing religion, I would just posit that there is more than one way, or one set approach, and organized religion does not always allow that breadth of expression. I believe that whilst some find great comfort in traditional religion, others also come to their own understanding of spirituality and their relationship with life, life-force and ‘god’.
Spirituality is a significant consideration in psychological health and wellbeing, and this is most prominently acknowledged in the fields of terminal illness and aged care. However, spirituality is relevant in all phases of life, not just end-of-life concerns. Another significant juncture occurs after major life events and the consideration of post-traumatic growth. Indeed, even the positive major life events, such as parenthood, tend to provide a natural reflective moment where people consider the “what am I doing and why am I here” ponderings that are more philosophical and spiritual in nature. I am finding that younger and younger people are considering questions of meaning and purpose that lead quite naturally to considerations of spiritual wellbeing. An increasing number of people are looking beyond the hamster-wheel of every day life and pondering these existential questions and feeling dissatisfied with the standard life path that might be promoted by the education system and society at large.
In order to be relevant in this space, and to ‘do no harm’, therapists need a good measure of psychological clarity within themselves. What do I hold to be true? What do I believe and why? How clear am I on my own biases and expectations? How do I bring myself to a therapy session in full respect for the client’s own journey and inner wisdom? How do clients experience my energy? What energetic influence am I bringing into the therapeutic space. These and other questions should be thoroughly explored and re-visited in reflective practice. From the times of Freud and the first introduction of “the talking cure” it was expected that those in the psychoanalytic society would also be undergoing their own analysis. “Know Thyself” is a phrase at least as old as Socrates, and quoted by Freud, and many others since. This is such an essential tenet for anyone working with people, and particularly those dealing with vulnerable peoples. Deep self reflection and self awareness must be integral to both therapist training and ongoing professional development.
