Freedom through Psychotherapy, LLC - Seeking Spirituality

“When searching for meaning, people reach for something greater than self. Some engage with religion and a distinctive belief system. Others find comfort in seeking spiritual truths in a variety of venues.” Dr. Vizzini welcomes the seeker and those who have sought. Below are some stories, prayers and ideas that may be of service to you. “There is a growing body of evidence that religious and spiritual beliefs, practices and influences can both prevent problems and help promote coping and healing . . .” (Benson, 1996; Koenig, 1997; Pargament, 1997; Richards & Bergin, 1997, 2000, p. 13).
– Dr. Joanne Vizzini


Seeking Spirituality As cited from A White Paper of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) "Spirituality is the drawing out and infusion of spirit in one’s life. It is experienced as an active and passive process." "Spirituality leads one to search for and discover meaning in life, a meaning that goes beyond a merely material experience, however successful (May, 1982). This is a deeply personal search, which can bring a person to inner peace even in the presence of adverse circumstances." "Religion can be thought of as the organization of belief which is common to a culture or subculture, “the codified, institutionalized, and ritualized expressions of peoples’ communal connections to the Ultimate” (Kelly, 1995, p.5). Religion is “an integrated system of belief, lifestyle, ritual activities, and institutions by which individuals give meaning to (or find meaning in) their lives by orienting them to what is taken to be sacred, holy, or the highest value” (Corbett, 1990, p.2)." A White Paper of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling. Retrieved from http://www.aservic.org/resources/aservic-white-paper-2/ PEACE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS RE-VISITED Lord, make me an instrument of peace in me. Where there is hatred in me, let me sow love in me. Where there is injury in me, let me bring pardon to me. Where there is doubt in me, let me bring faith to me. Where there is darkness in me, let me bring light to me. Where there is sadness in me, let me bring joy to me. O Divine One, let me seek to console me as I console others; to understand me, as I understand others; to love me, as I love others. For it is in giving to myself that I can receive; it is in pardoning myself that I can give pardon; and it is in dying to my false self that I can be born to Eternal life. Dr. Joanne Vizzini ©2014. Inspired for Al-Anon by Sr. Doris Wiswell, Emmaus House, June 3, 2014.