“All life is created by God and bears His autograph” — Edgar Draper
The World Spiritual Health Organization (WSHO) embraces the premise, and fact, that we are all spiritual beings having human experiences, and that to attempt to treat and counsel people using only secular concepts and methodology is insufficient—and likely disrespectful towards the Creator.
HEALING IS WHOLENESS IN BODY AND SPIRIT
Attempting to counsel and heal people outside the aegis of spirituality is a serious omission, and is like intentionally tying one arm behind your back in the provision of care. Just as there is no such thing as lasting peace and happiness without God, the same is true of wholeness and complete healing. The words psyche and therapy come from Latin and Greek meaning breath, life-force, soul, spirit and to heal. Healing suggests wholeness, which cannot occur when spirit and soul are absent in the healing process.
WSHO maintains counseling practitioners are most effective when they intentionally and openly “partner” with the Master Physician and Creator. A credential from WSHO as a Board-Certified Spiritual Counselor, gives clinicians the legitimacy and authority to deliberately include spirituality in their assessments and care plans.
As catalysts of hope, effective clinicians, counselors and chaplains know these cannot be separated from the spiritual dimension of life.
Still, many clinicians remain timid and/or fearful to dialogue with clients about the foundational and divine aspects of life; as manifested in rigid conformity to secular/scientific theory and praxis. We invite and encourage clinicians to appropriately and wisely add a psycho-spiritual dimension to their clinical practice at the in-take; of course, devoid of proselytization. This spiritual approach includes, but is not limited by, a parochial perspective to religion regardless of denomination or faith tradition.
We assert human beings are created with a conscience, a spiritual component which helps us know right from wrong; and when we make bad choices it is natural to feel guilt, shame or embarrassment. In religious parlance this may be identified as sin, which most often results in unhappiness, destroyed lives, broken relationships and ill-health. In his 1988 book, ”What Ever Happened to Sin,” the famous American psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger, advocates the inclusion of religious and spiritual dimensions when treating clients because the root causes of many relational, psychological and behavioral problems are in violation of one’s conscience and spirit.
Proper and inclusive treatment depends on correct diagnosis, which cannot optimally occur without considering the spiritual/religious dimension of the individual.
Beyond the pedagogy of secular psychological concepts and techniques, such matters as faith and forgiveness, and repentance and prayer, must also be explored when addressing spiritual and moral wounds, religious disappointments, and guilt from sin.
WSHO boldly asserts that clinical and spiritual care can and ought to be complementary to effectively ameliorate human brokenness and suffering. A ‘house divided’ between spirituality and behavioral science is counterproductive to our clients and the world. The time and opportunity for integrating these two disciplines is now. Inasmuch as clergy and medical professionals are diagnosticians of human needs and suffering, both have an obligation to serve (and to heal) within spiritual and clinical dimensions.
Spiritual Mental Health Professionals who are board certified through the World Spiritual Health Organization (WSHO) represent the highest standards of professional, pastoral and spiritual care anywhere in the world. Mental Health professionals credentialed by WSHO, may also request a certification designation of “Pastoral Psychotherapist” or “Pastoral Counselor” upon request.
Enjoy the following key benefits by adding a Spiritual/Pastoral Certification to your credentials:
Mental health practitioners, including:
All candidates for this program must meet the following standards:
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