Spiritual Resources

in Families

and Family Therapy

An Introduction

Froma Walsh, PhD

Program Overview

An Introduction• Spirituality: Intertwined Professional ~ Personal

Journey• Core Principles in Practice with Couples and Families• From Spiritual Diversity to Spiritual Pluralism

Morning - Part 1: Spiritual Resources in Families and Family Therapy

Morning - Part 2: Tapping Spiritual Resources in Suffering, Healing, and Resilience

Afternoon - Part 3: Spiritual Resources in Recovery from Traumatic Loss: Video and Discussion

Professional Influences

• Mental Health Field --Clinical Training• Don't Ask / Don't tell

• University Of Chicago -- Family Therapy Teaching• Cluster Theological Schools - Joint Degree

• Chicago Theological Seminary, Meadville-Lombard

• Resilience Research - Two key influences:• Relationships• Religion / Spirituality

• Peace Corps• Morocco

• International• Training &• Consultation:• Mental Health• Services

Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Beings

Holistic Orientation to PracticeSpirituality: •Involves streams of experience that flow through all aspects of life:

--- family and cultural heritage -- personal / shared belief systems; practices-- ongoing couple / family transactions-- dynamic processes over family life cycle

• Influences beliefs about suffering and pathways in healing and resilience

•Can nourish and heal; can be harmful

Organized, institutionalized belief system:

Shared moral values, codes for living

Contemplative Practices (e.g. Prayer,

meditation)

Rituals, sacred texts, music

Faith Community, Clergy

Belief in God, Higher Power, Universal Spirit

Belief in Afterlife - Spiritual passage

Religion

Spirituality Transcendent, personal beliefs and practices Active investment in daily life and relationships Fosters meaning, wholeness, harmony Deep Connection with all others, nature, universe Most experience within organized religion:

The heart and soul of religion (Pargament)

Religious or not, can find spiritual nourishment: Humanistic Values Contemplative Practices, Rituals Communion with Nature Creative / Expressive Arts Service to others; Social Activism Intimate Bonds, Kinship, Community

Spirituality is Inherently Relational

Deep connection within the self and with all others Intimate bonds and kinship network Human community, all life, the

universe

Interrelatedness of mind, body, spirit, and community In counseling For optimal mental health, relational

wellbeing, and positive growth

Multigenerational Family Life Cycle

Spirituality involves dynamic processes• that ebb and flow, and for many, change course • Between partners in couple relationship• over the life cycle and across the generations• Continuity and Change

Importance of Multi-Faith PerspectiveIn Practice with Couples and Families

Growing Spiritual Diversity, Complexity:

Selecting, Combining elements within / across faith denominations, spiritual approaches

Non-Christian Faiths / in Euro-Christian society Eastern, Indigenous spiritual beliefs / healing

practice often alongside Christianity

Secular Humanism; "Spiritual but not Religious;" Interfaith couples; Multifaith families "Spiritual Linguini"

IntertwiningofCulture andFaith

From Spiritual Diversity to Spiritual Pluralism