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Health & Fitness

On Psychology and Spirituality

In this blog posting, psychologist Josh Gressel begins a series on the connection between psychology and spirituality.

Today I’m going to start writing about a topic both near and dear to my heart:  the connection between psychology and spirituality. It’s a little daunting for me to begin. First, because I feel l I have so much I want to say about it. Second, because I am aware how easily triggered many people get by the topic of spirituality in general and religion in particular.

So let me start with a piece of context: I moved to California specifically to be able to attend a graduate school which integrates psychology and spirituality. It was clear to me the only way I could get through a doctorate would be to include a spiritual component in my studies.

I consider myself to be a religiously committed psychologist. And one of the “specialties” I list on my website is working with religiously committed adults on their psychological issues so they can worship God more fully. That’s a mouthful, but I intend to explain what I mean by it in future posts.

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There are plenty of clients for whom God or spirituality never enters into the picture. It’s not important to them, and if it’s not important to them it’s not an agenda for me. But for those for whom a belief in God or a belief is something larger than themselves is crucial to how they understand the world, I unabashedly bring God into our sessions. “Psychotherapy” means “soul therapy”, though that aspect seems to have been lost to many practitioners. There are many, many people (and I’m happy a lot of them have found their way to my office) who need to be able to talk about their belief in God as part of their getting their lives in order. I am sorry to say there are many people who have had their religious beliefs questioned, diminished or pathologized by previous therapists. These clients welcome the chance to be able to speak about it with someone who accepts it.

Let me today just lay out some of the directions I hope to go with this topic:

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1)    What are some of the reasons so many people get so reactive when religion or God gets mentioned? (I intend to look at reasons on both sides of the fence here).

2)    What are the similarities and differences between spirituality and religion?

3)    What is the connection between spirituality, religion and psychology?

4)    How can a belief in something larger help someone get better emotionally and psychologically?

5)    When are religious beliefs problematic from a psychological standpoint?

6)    What are some of the psychological dangers of walking a spiritual path?

7)    What role does the ego play in worship?

8)    What is “projection” and what role does it play in worship? In looking up to leaders of any kind?

9)    What is spiritual maturity?

10)  Why is meaning important to psychological health?

There is no end to the number of topics that can be put under this umbrella and I welcome suggestions and comments for future subjects. I make a commitment here that my writing on this topic will be non-denominational.

There are two reasons for this: 1) I consider it arrogance on the part of anyone to try to convert anyone else to their beliefs, certainly when we’re talking about something as infinite and unknowable as the nature of ultimate reality; and 2) I think there is no better way to turn an interesting conversation ugly than to try to tell someone else what they should think or believe. 

I ask any reader comments to be made in this spirit as well.

Next week: why are so many people so reactive when religion or God gets mentioned?

Do you have a question about your marriage or relationship? Is there a particular topic on relationships or individual psychological issues you would like addressed in this blog? Ask Josh in the comments below or email him at josh@joshgressel.com.

Josh Gressel, Ph.D., is a couples and individual therapist based in Pleasant Hill, CA. Visit his website at joshgressel.com.  He is currently accepting referrals.

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