Practical Spirituality: Identifying the spiritual element in everyday life
When we think of spirituality, we conjure images of fantastical settings and beings, gilded halls of religious worship containing exotic artifacts, studied and eccentric holy men and women who are far removed from society and everyday life. When we think of spirituality, we think of prayer, devotion, ecstasy and suffering. This is because when we think of spirituality we tend to think in extremes. These concepts not only limit our understanding of what spirituality is or should be, but they also limit our experience of it and what it could be in our own, personal living. To find spirituality in everyday life, one must take it out of the realm of extremes and begin to identify it in the seemingly insignificant. We call this practical spirituality.
The sheer significance that is implied in the word ‘spirituality’ may make the aforementioned statement sound like an impossibility / or even disrespectful. How can something be both spiritual and common? How can something insignificant carry spiritual significance? The answer lies in you. You are the connection between the ordinary realm and the spiritual realm. You are the one who perceives significance where it might otherwise be overlooked. You are the one who deems whether or not something is considered spiritual in your own life. If you decide an ancient cathedral with gold mosaics is spiritual, then it is. Or, it could simply be an elaborate yet empty building. If you choose to consider your afternoon cup of tea a spiritual experience, then it is. To someone else, it’s just a beverage. When you view something from the perspective of the human spirit, then you are assigning and finding the spiritual significance of it.
If spirituality is merely in the eye of the beholder, then how does one apply it to everyday living? What exactly is practical spirituality. Take the places, people and routine tasks of your everyday life and look at them from a fresh, spiritual angle. Specifically, start by choosing one or two of the more obvious. For example, it might be easier to consider bathing as a spiritual experience than a subway ride. So pick a couple of these basic, otherwise insignificant elements of everyday life to transform into something more spiritual.
Let’s explore the example of bathing to this end. Most likely, a bath or shower is a part of your everyday routine. If you’re like the rest of us in the world, it’s something you rush through hurriedly on your way to work, out, or before bed. It is probably one of the more insignificant parts of the day. Yet, when considered in a spiritual light, bathing is very symbolic. Meaning can be hidden behind or ritualized in almost any action, even bathing. The idea of cleansing, washing away of the unwanted, purifying oneself, and being renewed through the element of water are all essential concepts in spiritual experience. Make your bath spiritual by considering these things while you bathe or shower. Maybe a little study or internet research about water in spirituality or ritual bathing would help. Add additional elements to your bath routine to deepen the experience. Candles, fragrance, and prayer are all things that can take bathing from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The best part, whatever enlightenment you receive didn’t have to occur in some sanctified structure or with the guidance of a specially trained and devoted member of a higher order, it happened in your own bathroom.
There are hundreds of little ways like this that anyone can use to find the spiritual in the mundane. Your spirit is a part of you. It’s portable; it goes with you wherever you go. Like a sixth sense, or an extra organ, all you have to do is apply it. Whatever you apply your spirit to becomes a tool of your spirituality. When you begin to use your spiritual perception in your everyday routine, that routine will be uplifted and you will begin to reap spiritual rewards from something as simple as taking a shower.
OUR GUARANTEE: you deserve the best therapist possible. If you don't feel like the therapist that you met with was the right fit, then free of charge you can try out a different therapist. Being in a group practices allows for flexibility.
Our hope for having this conversation about spirituality is to help you find a way to start the conversation. The reality is that that there are many different types of spirituality, as it can mean different things to different people. Some common types include:
- Religious spirituality: involves a belief in a higher power or deity and often includes the practice of religious rituals and customs.
- Secular spirituality: may focus on personal values and beliefs, rather than a belief in a higher power, and may include practices such as meditation and mindfulness.
- Nature-based spirituality: emphasizes a connection to the natural world and may include practices such as hiking, gardening, or spending time in nature.
- New Age spirituality: often incorporates a variety of beliefs and practices such as astrology, tarot reading, and alternative healing practices.
- Mystical spirituality: may involve a search for transcendent experiences and a deeper understanding of the self and the world.
- Religious Humanism: refers to a non-theistic spiritual perspective which emphasizes ethics and social justice, emphasizing the importance of human values and social responsibility.
- Ancestral Spirituality: refers to the connection to the spiritual and cultural heritage of one's ancestors, it's often associated with indigenous people and ethnic minorities.
This list is not exhaustive and there may be other forms of spirituality not mentioned here. Spirituality is a personal and unique concept and different people may have different interpretations and practices of spirituality.
With that being said, we believe counseling and spirituality can go together.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SELF SCHEDULE AN ONLINE OR AN INPERSON THERAPY SESSION. The Center for Growth has offices in multiple states. If you prefer to speak to a live therapist, call our intake department at 215 - 922 - 5683 x 100 or go to a therapist's biography page and call the therapist of your choice directly. Every therapist has their phone number listed on their bio page.
The Center for Growth Has Therapy Offices in PA, NJ, VA, GA, NM, FL
- Ocean City Therapy Office
360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226 - Mechanicsville Therapy Office
9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116 - Alpharetta Office
11720 Amber Park Drive, Suite 160, Alpharetta GA 30006 - Society Hill Therapy Office
233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106 - Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office
2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130 - Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
- Telemedicine: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia New Mexico and Pennsylvania
Counseling & Therapy Services
1) Individual Counseling in Philadelphia, Mechanicsville, Ocean City, Santa Fe Services Individual therapy, also known as one-on-one therapy or psychotherapy, is a form of treatment where a person meets with a trained therapist in a private setting to discuss and work through personal issues. The therapist will help the client to identify problems, set goals, and develop coping strategies to improve their mental and emotional well-being. Individual therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief, anger, trauma, relationship problems, parenting concerns just to name a few.Individual therapy can also be used to help people improve self-esteem, communication skills, and overall well-being. The therapy process can include different approaches and techniques depending on the client's needs and the therapist's training.
2) Child Therapy & Teen Therapy in Philadelphia, Mechanicsville, Ocean City, Santa Fe, Child therapy, also known as child counseling or child psychotherapy, is a type of treatment that helps children and adolescents to cope with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. It is a process that enables children to express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences in a safe, supportive environment. Child therapy is led by a trained therapist who uses a variety of techniques such as play therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and family therapy to help children understand and process their emotions.
3) Art Therapy in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Santa Fe Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art-making as a means of expressing and exploring emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It is led by a trained art therapist who guides clients in creating art and then uses the art as a tool for reflection and self-discovery. The process of creating art can help individuals to access unconscious thoughts and feelings, develop self-awareness, and improve emotional regulation. It can be used to help clients with a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and compulsions.
4) Couples Therapy in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Santa Fe Couples therapy is a type of therapy that helps couples improve their relationship by addressing and resolving conflicts, improving communication, and building intimacy. It is led by a trained therapist who will work with the couple to identify the problems in their relationship and develop strategies to overcome them. The therapy process can include a variety of techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and systemic therapy.
Couples therapy can be used to address a wide range of issues including communication problems, infidelity, sexual difficulties, and financial stress. It can also be used to help couples navigate major life changes such as the birth of a child, retirement, or illness. The goal is to help couples to understand and accept each other's perspectives, learn how to communicate effectively, and to build a stronger and more satisfying relationship.
5) Family Therapy in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Santa Fe Family therapy is a type of therapy that involves the entire family or selected family members, in the treatment process. It is led by a trained therapist who will work with the family to identify problems, set goals, and develop strategies to improve communication, relationship dynamics, and overall functioning. Family therapy can be used to address a wide range of issues such as communication problems, behavioral issues, mental health concerns, and conflicts.
Family therapy can take different forms, such as individual sessions with family members, or group sessions with the entire family, and it can be short or longer term. Depending on the issues, the therapist may use different approaches such as structural therapy, strategic therapy, or systemic therapy. The therapy process can also include homework assignments and exercises to be done outside of sessions to enhance the therapeutic process. The goal of family therapy is to help families understand and accept each other's perspectives, learn how to communicate effectively and improve the overall functioning of the family unit.
6) Support Groups in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Santa Fe
Therapeutic support groups at TCFG are groups of people who come together to discuss and work through common issues or concerns related to their mental health or well-being. They are led by a trained therapist who guides the group members through the process of sharing their experiences, providing support, and learning new coping strategies. Support groups can be focused on a specific issue such as herpes, chronic pain, grief, or codependency, non-binary, mindfulness skills building or they can be more general in nature, such as groups for people with mental health conditions.
Participating in a therapeutic support group can provide individuals with a sense of community and belonging, as well as a safe space to share their thoughts and feelings. Group members can also learn from one another and gain new perspectives on their own issues. Group therapy can also be a cost-effective way of receiving therapy as it is usually less expensive than individual therapy. The group setting allows for the members to see how others are coping with similar issues and to gain different perspectives.
Therapeutic support groups at TCFG can provide individuals with an opportunity to work through their issues in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. The group setting can also provide a sense of validation, as others in the group may have similar experiences. We strongly encourage clients being seen engage in a combination of individual and group work
We offer more Therapeutic Services then what is listed below. This is just a sampling. We hope that you check out our service pages for a full list. Additionally, we offer many self help articles for you to read from the privacy of your own home. All of our self help articles stem from the clinical work that we have done with TCFG clients.
ADHD / ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, and Tourettes
Anxiety, OCD, Panic Therapy Services
Anger Management Therapy
Babyloss Therapy / Pregnancy Loss
Depression Therapy Services
Eating Disorders Treatment
Grief & Loss Therapy Services
Personality Issues (Narcissism, Borderline...)
Shame Therapy Services
Sex Addiction Therapy / Porn Addiction / Internet Addiction Therapy
Sex Therapy: Sexual function & dysfunction treatment
Trauma Therapy Services
Relationship Problems
