Spiritual Assessment

The assessment process begins by helping the client review his or her spiritual journey--its ups and downs, the moments of power, surrender and transformation, and times of death and rebirth. The assessment will include both the content of one's spirituality and the degree of active practice of one's faith tradition. Your spirituality is your spirituality! The role of the spiritual counselor is not to impose or challenge the client's faith tradition. The counselor's role is to help the counselee examine and/or renew his or her own spiritual walk. Depression or any kind of so called mental illness often does create a "crisis of faith," calling forth from us a re-examination and then a revitalization of our faith tradition.

In addition to conversation, there are several written assessment tools that can be helpful, including "Forgiveness Survey" and the "Spiritual Assessment Scale." Some of the topics or themes assessed in these scales include: meaningfulness of life, purpose of suffering, mindfulness attitude, self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others, gratitude and thanksgiving, presence of the Divine, connection to a spiritual community, strength of hope, inner peace or serenity, personal worth or significance, perfectionism and grace, and a sense of calling or purpose in life. Along the way, a spiritual counselor or spiritual director will teach the counselee a variety of spiritual practices designed, if employed regularly, to strengthen the individual's battle against depression.

Contact our Personal Advocate to help you to find the right provider for your needs.