Running head: SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INVENTORY

Spiritual and Psychological Inventory

Cynthia Muaau

Kaplan University Student

Unit 9 Final Project

HW420

Professor Mark Maule

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Creating a spiritual and psychological inventory is a valuable tool that can be used to

assess a clients current state of wellness, with regard to spiritual and psychological wellness.

The importance of self-reflection and the information that can be obtained by utilizing the

following questionnaire will greatly assist the practitioner in the development of a plan that can

be executed to facilitate further self reflection, spiritual and psychological growth. According to

P. Scott Richards, (n.d.), A spiritual assessment may also include prayerful or meditative efforts

to seek spiritual impressions and insights about clients and their problems and how to assist

them. The goal of developing and implementing a spiritual and psychological wellness

inventory is to assist a client in gaining a better understanding of the spectrum of their spiritual

and psychological self.

Spiritual and Psychological Inventory and specific reasons for questions:

1. What experiences/people bring you ultimate joy?

This question is pertinent to the spiritual and psychological welfare of my client because joy is

more than just a intermission from sadness and pain. Joy gives you the courage and strength to

find new sources of meaning and hope in life. Even in the most difficult times, a laugh or even a

smile can make one feel better. Joy is what gets us through challenges and allows light in to

illuminate the shadows. (Fox, 2013). This question will engage the client in self-reflection on

those things that bring them joy and ways in which they may be able to create a more joyous

existence.

2. Does having a spiritual life/practice play a significant role in your life? In

what way?

This question is pertinent to the spiritual and psychological growth of my client because studies

show that engaging in a spiritual practice such as meditation, prayer, yoga or journaling can
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increase compassion, empathy, and attention, as well as quiet the mind. (University of

Minnesota, 2013). This question will facilitate further self-reflection regarding what a spiritual

practice may look like to them and how one can begin to exercise a spiritual practice.

3. What is your personal definition of love?

I included this question in order to prompt some significant self-reflection on those things or

people that the client may have an emotionally or spiritually damaging attachment to. It is

feasible to love unconditionally, and care deeply, but love that is accompanied by neediness or

being attached to something or someone can be destructive to the spirit. This question will give

the client the opportunity to examine what love looks like to them and reflect on ways in which

they can seek the true meaning of love.

4. What does service to others mean to you? Do you actively serve in any

capacity?

I included this question because it is in service to others that the emphasis on self is diminished

or halted completely. Service to others often reshapes or redirects people's values, perspectives,

and even their life goals. For many, it spurs new growth, both spiritually and psychologically.

(LaBier, 2010). This question allows clients to reflect on their own service to others and

inventory ways that they can be of service. This will give the client an opportunity to

contemplate ways in which they may improve on this aspect of their lives.

5. Do you experience any stress or anxiety? What methods do you use to reduce

or lessen the stress and anxiety in your life?

This question is relevant to spiritual and psychological health and wellness because it provides

the client an opportunity for self-reflection on those triggers that may induce stress or anxiety in

their lives and ways that they can effectively and constructively manage them.
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6. Are there things in your life that you consider to be sacred? If so, how do

you honor them? (Seaward, 2012).

This question implores the client to deeply reflect on their values as they relate to their spiritual

and psychological wellness. The sacred can be the simple recognition of the relatedness of all

life and our place within the web of existence. The sacred is that which binds us to all other

living things and to the Earth that is our home. (ONeil, 2007).

7. Do you find that you have aspects of your self, (not in the physical sense),

that you dont like? What are they? How do you deal with them?

Incorporating this question into the questionnaire gives the client the opportunity to examine and

embrace the shadow. In this self-reflection one may recognize traits that they are not proud of

but are important to acknowledge. According to Seaward, (2012), As you begin to cultivate the

relationship with your inner self, you encounter the face of the dark side. As you continue to

cultivate this internal relationship, embracing the shadow becomes easier.

8. If you feel that you have been violated in some way, are you able to forgive

the transgression or do you hold a grudge?

This question has great relevance to the spiritual and psychological wellness of a client and

encourages self-reflection on those negative and unresolved issues that one may be holding on

to. These issues of unforgiveness may be having a negative effect on their spiritual, physical,

and psychological growth and development. By embracing forgiveness, one can also embrace

peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Reflecting on how forgiveness can lead one down the path of

physical, emotional and spiritual well being will assist the client in further development of

spiritual and psychological wellness. (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

9. What does inner peace look like to you?

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This question would be relevant to a clients spiritual and psychological wellness as it opens up a

dialogue regarding methods, if any, being utilized to foster inner peace. A clients self-reflection

on methods they currently employ when responding to certain situations can facilitate

meaningful change toward true inner peace and transformation. These transformations create

paradigm shifts of the mind and spirit.

10. Do you have issues in your life that you have no control over? What are

they? How do you cope?

I included this question due to its relevance in prompting a client to self reflect on the way in

which they view control in their life. When we dwell on what is out of our control, whether

something that happened to us in the past, or something were awaiting in the future, it prevents

us from experiencing the beauty in the moment and having peace of mind. (Joe, 2011). This

question will allow the client to see what they may be missing when they are dwelling on things

out of their control.

Interview:

1. Q. What experiences/people bring you joy?

A. The things that bring me the most joy in my life are really quite simple. First and

foremost my family brings me great joy, especially my daughter. Watching her play and

laugh, her innocence and wonder about the world are precious. I also find joy in my dog

Yummy, especially when I get home from work and she is so happy to see me the

unconditional love of a pet is refreshing. I find joy in nurturing my plants and watching

them grow.

2. Q. Does having a spiritual life/practice play a significant role in your life?

A. Yes, I am a spiritual person but I wouldnt say that I have any ritual that I routinely
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practice. I do pray and have a personal relationship with a greater/higher being. I have a

personal dialogue with this entity with these dialogues taking place several times a day. I

need this presence in my life, I wouldnt make it without it.

3. Q. What is your personal definition of love?

A. Love is hard to define. Love can be a blessing or it can be a curse. It can either

make you extremely happy or extremely sad. I know that I love my daughter

unconditionally, and I find this to be the most powerful kind of love, one that I would lay

down my life for, but to love everyone despite his or her humanness is very difficult for

me. I know that I am called to love my neighbor as I love myself, but this is difficult for

me, especially when others values are not in alignment with mine.

4. Q. What does service to others mean to you? How do you serve?

A. To me service to others means doing something for someone in order to make

something easier for them. I serve by helping others out when they are in need. I can

read people well and I try to intercede before they have to ask me for help. I know that

some people hate to ask for help. So I offer assistance so they wont have to ask. When I

offer my help I dont expect anything in return.

5. Q. Do you experience any stress or anxiety? What methods do you use to lessen the

stress and anxiety in your life?

A. Yes, I do experience stress and anxiety. Who doesnt? As a single mother its easy

to let the effects of just trying to live and make it get me stressed out. I dont deal well

with stress and it tends to come out as angry outbursts, then I have to live with the self-

guilt that those outbursts bring. Especially when I have lost my temper with my

daughter. I dont currently have any methods to effectively deal with my stress levels,
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but I am open to just about anything at this point.

6. Q. Are there things in your life that you consider sacred? If so, how do you honor

them?

A. I consider my relationship with my daughter to be sacred. I honor this relationship

by taking care of her in all ways, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I do

my best to nurture her growth and development the best way that I know how.

7. Q. Do you find that you have aspects of your self (not in the physical sense) that you

dont like? What are they? How do you deal with them?

A. Yes, I dont like that I lose my temper and get angry. I also feel doubtful at times

about my abilities. I worry a lot about things that are out of my control and can become

very fearful about the future. In order to try and cope with these aspects of myself that I

dont like I keep busy so that I dont have to address them. I use distractions to keep

myself from putting too much energy into exploring the reasons for feeling this way.

8. Q. If you feel that you have been violated, are you able to forgive the transgression or do

you hold a grudge?

A. I am usually a forgiving person. It may take a while, and I will never forget the

offense but eventually I am able to let it go. It takes a lot of energy to hold onto grudges

and I need all the energy that I can get just to keep moving forward in life. I feel that

grudges are like poison to a persons spirit.

9. Q. What does inner peace look like to you?

A. Inner peace is hard for me to find. I struggle with letting go of certain things, like

anger, worry and fear. At best, I find inner peace when Im alone, but it can be brief; at

worst, I am up all night with my mind in turmoil.

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10. Q. Do you have issues in your life that you have no control over? What are they? How

do you cope?

A. Yes, I cannot control the fact that I am a single mother. I try to take things one day

at a time and try not to get too far ahead of myself. I continue to do the best that I can

with the hand that I have been dealt. I cannot control or change the choices or

behavior of others but I can chose not to allow them to be a part of my or my

daughters life.

Questionnaire findings:

This questionnaire has brought to light some deficiencies or tendencies that the client has that are

not conducive to spiritual and psychological wellness. It also brings our attention to some

strengths that she has that she can build upon. For instance, she finds joy in things that are of no

material value. Finding joy in the simple pleasures in life can help one to achieve a more

peaceful and pleasurable existence. On the other hand, the questionnaire indicates that

improvement could be made in the area of stress, anxiety and worry. Helping this client to

identify those triggers that bring about these feeling and finding a healthy outlet for them will be

key in assisting this client in achieving overall wellness.

Interviewee Development:

The findings from the above interview have provided valuable insight for the client and

practitioner regarding the level of spiritual and psychological wellness that the client is currently

experiencing. These findings can be used to develop a spiritual and psychological health and

wellness plan for the client. By addressing some of the concerns that the client has regarding

spiritual and psychological growth, together, client and practitioner can begin to map out a plan

that will incorporate exercises that can enhance and facilitate spiritual and psychological healing,
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growth and future enlightenment. For instance, the questionnaire indicates that the client has a

tendency toward stress and anxiety, and indicates that the client has no real methods in place to

effectively manage stress and its affects on her spiritual and psychological wellness. Assisting

the client in finding a way in which to incorporate a moderate intensity exercise program into her

day will help to foster stress reduction and therefore provide a path toward spiritual and

psychological wellness. Another area that needs attention according to the questionnaire is inner

peace. If you don't take time to find that space where your inner peace resides, the

consequences can be profound. (Tolle, 2014). Educating the client on exercises in deep

breathing, meditation and living fully in the present moment, minimizing distractions and

unplugging from technology for a designated time each day will help to facilitate inner peace.

Additions or subtractions to questionnaire:

One of the additions that I would make to the questionnaire would be to address the question of

self-renewal. According to Seaward, (2012), self renewal is a rejuvenation process of

implementing healthy boundaries, increasing energy and understanding that solitude is

necessary. Self-renewal begins when you take time out to reflect on what is working and not

working in your life, to determine what is really important to you so that you can reframe,

refocus, and rejuvenate. Acquiring information on the clients self-renewal processes, if any, and

assisting her in developing a plan where self-renewal can be addressed and a strategy

implemented. Perhaps implementing exercises that include using her intuition and listening to

her inner voice will greatly benefit this client on her journey toward self renewal as well as,

spiritual and psychological wellness.

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In summary, creating a spiritual and psychological inventory in the form of this

questionnaire is a valuable tool that can be used to assess a clients current state of wellness. By

developing and utilizing this inventory, I have learned, that it is asking appropriate questions that

require self reflection, that not only do I as the practitioner have the opportunity to learn where

deficiencies and strengths lie in ones spiritual and psychological journey, but more importantly, it

gives the client the opportunity to deeply reflect on issues that may be impeding their spiritual

and psychological wellness.

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Reference

Fox, Mei Mei (2013). 40 Ways to Find Joy in Your Everyday Life. Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meimei-fox/happiness-tips_b_2405608.html

Joe (2011). Free Yourself By Letting Go of What You Cant Control. Retrieved from

shakeoffthegrind.com/emotional-health/free-yourself-by-letting-go-of-what-you-cant-

control

LaBier, Douglas, PhD (2010). Does Volunteering Your Time Really Help Anyone? Retrieved

from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-new-resilience/201011/does-

volunteering-your-time-really-help-anyone

Mayo Clinic (2014). Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness. Retrieved from

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-

20047692

ONeil, Patrick (2007). What is sacred? The relationship of all living things. Retrieved from

http://www.uuworld.org/articles/what-is-sacred%3F

Richards, Scott, P. (n.d.). Discerning Patient Needs: Spiritual Assessment Perspectives for

Health Care Chaplains. Retrieved from

https://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/docs/publications/sri/pb_discerning_patient_needs

_spiritual_assessment.pdf

Seaward, Brian Luke. Health of the Human Spirit: Spiritual Dimensions for Personal Health,

2nd Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012. VitalBook file. Retrieved from

http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9781284090444/outline/9

Tolle, Eckhart, (2014). Eckhart Tolle, 'A New Earth' Author, Shares A Simple Exercise To

Uncover Inner Peace. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/09/find-

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inner-peace-eckhart-tolle-a-new-earth_n_5291131.html

University of Minnesota (2013). Why Is Spirituality Important? Retrieved from

http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/why-

spirituality-important