Timothy LongEarly in my counseling practice I sensed that the true cause and cure of most all disease, especially emotional and mental dis-ease was mind-based or spiritual. After over 35 years in practice I am certain of it. Spiritual counseling can be essential to healing or resolving just about anything.
Here is quote from a psychiatrist that came to the same conclusion:
“After half a century in psychiatric practice, I know without a doubt that the source of addiction is spiritual deficiency. Irrespective of whether we are religious or atheist, all human beings are spiritual by nature and spirituality is the cornerstone of our recovery.” ~ Dr. Abraham Twerski
And here is Plato from over 2000 years ago:
“The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated.” ~ Plato
And the master poet Rumi about a 1000 years ago:
“The wound is the place where the light enters.” ~ Rumi
This is also similar to what Jesus, Buddha, and many spiritual teachers were trying to tell us:
The answer to our suffering is spiritual and it is found within. All healing comes from within. There is a greater force or divine energy that we all can call upon. We are One with that greater force or Source/God. We are already whole. Illness, unhappiness, anxiety, confusion, depression all have one thing in common: being out of harmony, out of Oneness, out of alignment, not living whole, holistic, holy lives. When we are suffering we have become separated from our wholeness, from our Source/God/Divinity; we are not in alignment with our true nature.
Aspects of spiritually-based psychotherapy and counseling:
- Taking an inventory of one’s life and relationships
- Assessing one’s health and happiness
- Identifying goals and dreams
- Processing, healing and transforming past traumas, losses
- Discovering or learning to deepen connection with one’s own spiritual source
- Deepening meditation and focusing skills
- Learning mindfulness practices
- Building a positive mind
- Building skills of conscious co-creation
- Coming into harmony with one’s true nature
- Finding true forgiveness and freedom from the past
- Finding wholeness of self and holiness in life
- Awakening to our innate spirituality
Spiritual counseling action steps
To begin and to strengthen your healing process, here are some suggestions I have personally found helpful in my own life as well as in the lives of my clients:
- Read spiritually inspiring books
- Watch spiritually uplifting movies and videos
- Join a church or uplifting place of worship that calls to your heart and soul
- Pray often. Open yourself to a full, authentic relationship with your Creator
- Discover your relationship with God is two ways; speak and listen; engage in a dialogue
- Connect with friends and family that support your spiritual awareness and growth
- If you are suffering with any form of pain, physical, emotional or mental, find yourself a spiritually-minded therapist, counselor or coach
- Clear out of your life toxic people, activities, media, foods, drinks and drugs that separate you from your deepest whole self and Spirit
- Spend quiet time each day being still and inner-focused. Include conscious breathing, inner meditation, somatic sensing, writing in a journal, and quality time in nature.
After suffering for many years with PTSD and anxiety disorders, I found healing and a complete life transformation through a combination of transpersonal and mindful-based psychotherapy, spiritual counseling, alternative health, meditation, and my own personal spiritual and creative practices.
Wishing you peace, healing and happiness,
Timothy Long
Offering Complimentary Sessions for anyone interested in exploring spiritual counseling, healing, or personal coaching.