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 Practice Spirituality: 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 Perspective In 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"

Intertwining of Culture and Faith

From Spiritual Diversity to Spiritual Pluralism