Some may question spirituality with a physician or in healthcare but when treating the totality of the person there is always some type of spirituality. Healthcare professionals should not cross certain boundaries with personal faith but many individuals have spiritual needs and emotional pains. It is important to be more holistic in treatment approach of the entire person.
Care of the sick or dying is more than medical treatment. Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Program
The article, “Does spirituality belong at the doctor’s office?” by Jen Rose Smith looks closer at the issue of spirituality and the doctor’s office. She states,
“Graham has defined spirituality as “our innate ability to connect — to connect to others, to our environment, to the transcendent mystery and to our true, deepest self.” Like Sweet, he said modern medicine’s focus on efficiency leaves out that broader view of patients’ well-being and their spiritual and religious needs during illness.”
Many physicians and healthcare professionals struggle with the basic interaction beyond the medicine and hence miss the spiritual needs of their patients.
Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pastoral Thanatology.
People are throwing their anger at the pandemic or world affairs or political unrest at a variety of other venues. Whether at home or in traffic, the population is angry and has no place to channel it in a healthy fashion. This anger is erupting within our society.
Displaced anger is finding places in everyday life. Please also review AIHCP’s Anger Management Certification
The article, “Apodaca: ‘Dysregulated anger’ has us erupting over the smaller things” by Patrice Apodaca looks closer at this displaced anger. She states,
“People are throwing tantrums at school board meetings, and students are acting up even more than usual. Arguments are breaking out in grocery stores and restaurants over masks, vaccines, empty store shelves and long waits for meals to be delivered by overworked servers. Motorists are blowing a gasket when they see the prices at the pump. Traffic deaths are up, in part, authorities believe, because drivers are behaving more aggressively. Medical workers are regularly harassed and threatened, and flight attendants are forced to show far too many rude and unruly passengers just how secure and snug their seatbelts can get if they won’t voluntarily sit down and shut up.”
Anger can spill into so many other facets of life. It is important to understand the source and properly channel it.
Please also review AIHCP’s Anger Management Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as an Anger Management Consultant.
Prolonged grief disorder is a form of complicated grief. The grief is not resolved. While slightly different than depression, prolonged grief disorders disrupts the lives of individuals and prevents them from properly adjusting to the loss. Pet owners can also face this type of disorder over the loss of a pet.
Pet loss can have complications for people in the grieving process. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification
The article, “Can Bereaved Pet Owners Suffer Prolonged Grief Disorder?” by Hal Herzog, PhD, looks at how complication grief does not discriminate between pet loss and human loss. He states,
“According to the DSM, prolonged grief disorder only occurs in response to “the death of a person who was close to the bereaved.” Bereaved pet owners are omitted. Yet, in a 2020 study of 395 functionally impaired bereaved pet owners published in the journal Psychiatry Research, Sherman Lee found that the patterns of their symptoms were the same as in individuals suffering prolonged grief disorder in response to the loss of a human companion.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
Meditation is a great way to reduce stress and help overall health. It is both spiritual as well as holistic from a health standpoint but it is important to understand how it works to properly apply it. Meditation if properly practiced and applied can give numerous benefits to mind body and soul.
If meditation is spiritual, obviously the proper aim and understanding of it as an elevation to a spiritual realm is important but if just utilizing it for its secular benefits of mind and body is important if one wishes to receive its benefits. This involves proper settings, focus, posture and breathing. Without the ability to find quiet and peace, one will have a far more difficult time finding the ability to enter a more passive mind state. Breathing is extremely important as well. Different types of breathing techniques help the body calm and be able to reduce stress and find the needed balance. Hence it is extremely important to utilize good meditation form.
Proper meditation has many benefits to the mind body and soul. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.
The article, “What Is Meditation?” from Cleveland Clinic healthesssentials reviews the proper methods of utilizing meditation. The article gives an indepth look at what meditation is and the many types one can utilize. It also lists important techniques that ensure its effectiveness. The article states,
“If we’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s that tending to our mental health is as important as taking care of our physical health. Regular exercise certainly gives us a brain and body boost, as does maintaining a healthy diet. But meditation is also becoming an increasingly popular way to nurture your whole self. ”
The article continues, “Meditation can feel daunting if you’ve never done it before. And some types of meditation aren’t easy to do on your own. For example, because guided imagery is always directed by someone else, Sherwin notes this type is “a little bit harder to do if you’re standing in line at the grocery store.”
Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or for the mind to simply acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content. The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force (qi, ki, prana, etc.) and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness.
In order to properly meditate, one must first find a comfortable position in which to sit or recline. Once settled, the individual must then focus their attention on their breath and allow their thoughts to flow in and out without judgement or attachment. It is important to maintain a sense of detachment from the thoughts as they come and go, otherwise the individual will become caught up in them and the meditation will be less effective.
Setting, posture and breathing
There are a few key things to keep in mind when setting up a space for meditation. First, it is important to find a place where you will not be disturbed. This means choosing a spot where you can sit comfortably without being interrupted. Second, it is helpful to have a straight back when meditating, so finding a chair or sitting on the floor with your back against a wall is ideal. Finally, it is important to focus on your breath and let go of all other thoughts.
Proper meditation posture is extremely important for achieving the optimal meditative state. The most important thing to remember is to keep the spine straight, as this allows for the free flow of energy. The head should be tilted slightly upward, with the chin parallel to the floor. The spine should be straight, the shoulders relaxed, and the chin slightly tucked in. The hands can be placed palm up on the thighs or placed in a mudra. The legs should be crossed with the right ankle over the left knee. The eyes should be closed and focused on the third eye point.
Proper meditation breathing is an important aspect of the practice. The breath is a vehicle for the mind and the body to connect with the present moment. When we breathe deeply and slowly, it helps to calm the mind and bring our attention to the present moment. The breath should be deep and smooth, without any pauses. Inhale and exhale evenly, and focus on the sensation of the breath.
Conclusion
In conclusion, proper meditation can be a very effective tool in managing stress and anxiety. However, it is important to find a method that works for you and to be consistent with your practice. Meditation is not a quick fix, but it can have lasting effects if you stick with it. It is essential though to properly practice it to achieve these effects. With time and practice, one can better master the techniques to find the mental state of mind necessary to reduce stress and improve overall health. If you’re looking to reduce stress and improve your overall wellbeing, give meditation a try.
Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program and see if it meets your goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Meditation Instructor. Once the core courses are completed, qualified professionals can earn the four year certification. As a certified Meditation Instructor, individuals can help others learn the health benefits of meditation while also incorporating proper techniques in breathing and form for their students.
EFT has many uses as an alternative therapy. It is primarily used to help individuals overcome trauma and anxiety. It helps move negative energy and reinforce oneself with positive insight. It is similarly based on acupuncture and the points of energy within the body. Anxiety in itself is a stressful arousal and state with no definitive source. It is an unsettling emotion and can cause distress throughout the day. It can prevent one from getting out of bed, going to work, or being in the social sphere. Fortunately, EFT can help move the negative energy associated with anxiety and help the person find some calmness and serenity.
EFT can help with many interior healings. Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Certification Program and see if it meets your goals
The article, “How I Use EFT Tapping to Relieve Stress and Anxiety” by Anna Myers looks at how EFT can help with anxiety. She discusses what EFT is in the article, its process and how to properly utilize it with stress. EFT is no quick fix and is something that can take several or more times, multiple times a week to help. She mentions it is an alternative therapy and should be used in unison with what a primary physician recommends. In regard to anxiety and EFT, she states,
“According to its practitioners, EFT can be used as a stress relief strategy and can help with anything from increasing energy and motivation levels, overcoming subconscious blocks, managing pain or food cravings, releasing negative beliefs or disturbing memories, improving personal relationships and confidence levels, and much more. “People simply get unstuck,” Jeffers describes, and “results are so profound.”
“How I Use EFT Tapping to Relieve Stress and Anxiety”. Anna Myers. March 2nd, 2022. InStyle.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at one time or another. It is the body’s natural response to stress, and it can be both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, anxiety can help us stay alert and focused in times of danger. On the other hand, anxiety can also become overwhelming, making it difficult to think clearly or function properly. When this happens, we may say that someone is “anxious” or “anxious about something.
Anxiety can have a significant impact on an individual’s life. It can interfere with one’s ability to work, study, and socialize. In severe cases, it can lead to isolation and depression. Anxiety can also affect physical health, causing headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and sleeping difficulties.
EFT Can Help
EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It is a form of psychological acupuncture, which is based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments. However, instead of using needles, EFT uses tapping with the fingertips and fingertips to balance out the body’s energy system. EFT has been shown to be effective for treating a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and pain. It is a relatively new therapy, so more research is needed to determine its long-term effectiveness.
EFT is a powerful psychological tool that can help to treat anxiety. By tapping on key points on the body, EFT can help to release emotions and stress that may be causing anxiety. EFT has been shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety in many studies, and can be used as a complementary treatment to other therapies. The aim of EFT is to reduce the negative emotions associated with anxiety disorders, such as fear, worry, and avoidance behaviors. EFT has been shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders, with studies demonstrating reductions in both symptoms and levels of anxiety.
The tapping of specific points on the body has been shown to help reduce the fight-or-flight response, and help people to feel more in control of their anxiety in that way. The individual needs to focus on the anxiety and mentally state it, while tapping the proper points. Through a continued process that is repetitive, studies have shown to reduce anxiety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, anxiety is a very real and very common mental health disorder that can have a serious impact on one’s life. It is clear that EFT can be helpful against anxiety. The tapping technique can help to release negative emotions and clear the mind. It is a simple and effective method that can be used anywhere, at any time. With regular practice, EFT can help to reduce anxiety levels and improve overall wellbeing. If you think you may be suffering from anxiety, please reach out to a mental health professional for help and also considering using EFT.
Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Certification Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in EFT. EFT Practitioners can help guide individuals through EFT to properly address issues of anxiety at a energy level. Those who learn it can then easily practice the therapy in the privacy of one’s own home whenever one feels the need to calm oneself. Through training EFT can be a simple, inexpensive, non invasive, and effective tool against anxiety and stress. It is definitely worth the time and effort to try and see if it works oneself, as well as to become certified in it if already working in the counseling fields
Additional Resources
“Emotion-focused therapy for social anxiety (EFT-SA)”. Robert Elliott, ect. al. Volume 16, 2017 – Issue 2: Part I of the Special Issue on Emotion-Focused Therapy. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies. Access here
“The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on nurses’ stress, anxiety, and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial”. BernaDincer, etc. al. Volume 17, Issue 2, March–April 2021, Pages 109-114. EXPLORE. Science Direct. Access here
“What Is EFT Tapping?”. WebMD Editorial Contributors. 2021. WebMD. Access here
“Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health”. Donna Bach,ND. 2019; 24: 2515690X18823691. J Evid Based Integr Med. National Library of Medicine. Access here
“A guide to EFT tapping”. Jay Leonard. September 26th, 2019. MedicalNewsToday. Access here
The recent war in Ukraine is an atrocity that screams to heaven for justice. Vladimir Putin has disregarded all norms of civilized war and like the “Hitlers” before him has become an international war criminal hiding behind a large nation and army. His war in Ukraine not only fails the standards of justification according to civilized nations and secular society but completely fails all standards of Christian conduct.
This is amazing since many right extremist Christians once hailed him as a good Christian man. His own puppet regime church in Moscow quietly ignores his atrocities as he unfolds an unjust war in Ukraine and the true un-Christian mask is removed from the face of this dictator. Putin has no care for just war or anything remotely Christian and his behavior in past wars such as in Syria, Georgia, Chechenia and other regions also show the atrocities towards civilians and un-needed death that follows his immoral orders.
The just man and woman though ask questions how a Christian may take up arms against such monsters. In WW2, millions took up arms against Hitler and were forced into bloody conflict. Hence how does one retain Christian teaching of “Thou Shall not Murder” in response to unjust aggression. It seems almost comical to call upon violence to stop violence within Christian teaching. It seems contradictory but due to the fallen world we live in, we do not have the luxury of living in a white and black world and unfortunately, sometimes, force is needed to stop a greater evil. This blog will review Aquinas’ theory on just war and also look to understand what it means to be a Christian during war.
What makes a war just? Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification
Self defense is a key concept. One is always entitled to defend oneself within appropriate response as the matter dictates. If one tries to assault another, oneself is entitled to resist and fight back, even if injury is incurred upon the aggressor. The intent was never to hurt another person but to protect oneself. The secondary result in defending oneself is the injury to the aggressor. This falls within a remote and often unheard moral concept known as the Double Effect. An action with good intention produces two ends, one good and one not good. The good result is willed while the not good result is a byproduct. Hence in self defense, one’s primary vocation to life which is self-preservation is undertaken. In this endeavor, one seeks to preserve one’s life through appropriate force against an aggressor which results in one’s preservation but also the byproduct of injury to the other.
One often can become confused since Christianity if improperly interpreted produces a pacifism in all cases. Christ did say to turn the other cheek and warned those who take up the sword will die by the sword. Do these words contradict self defense and defense of the weak? Christ never came as a political savior to the Jews despite the horrific treatment they received from the Romans. Christ was a spiritual redeemer and presented no political doctrine. What he intended to teach was how we deal with people in our daily life. We are to accept wrong doing patiently from our neighbor. We are to turn the other cheek rather than seek revenge. We are not to take up the sword in revenge or fight with others over trivial things.
Christ, never presented self defense of Himself, in His holy passion. He accepted the brunt of sin as the sacrificial victim. It was His vocation.
This does not apply to closing one’s eye to cruelty in this world against the weak or self defense of ourselves. As long as the intent is just and the force appropriate, then it is justified to help others with the use of force. Sometimes helping one’s neighbor requires a rise of force. Is this not true of the great Archangel Michael and his holy war against Lucifer?
Hence, the 5th Commandment rightly states, “Thou shalt not murder”, not kill. The intent to kill is never primary but always secondary. The intent is to defend oneself or others against great evil that causes greater harm if one would not act.
In case of WW2, we clearly see the allies response to Hitler as a just cause but lets review the criteria of just war from the Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas and apply it to both WW2 and war against Putin.
St Thomas Aquinas outlined the measures to justify force against an aggressor within Christian morality. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program
Aquinas points out that all violence against evil must be a last resort. Diplomacy must be exhausted. Other venues to avoid bloodshed must be examined before a defense is established.
Aquinas dictates that the war must be pursued by legitimate authority against the opposing force.
Aquinas requires the war to be a just cause. Hence defense of oneself or others is a prerequisite for any violence
Aquinas considers probability of success as also a notion, unless of course the war is for one’s very survival itself such as the case of Ukraine.
Aquinas lists right intention as a key as well. The intention is to restore peace and repel the aggressor. Revenge is not sought but only justice
Aquinas elaborates that proportionality be equal to the aggression. Hence justice demands only the required violence to end the conflict and not punish beyond the initial offense of the aggressor. This also mirrors modern laws which outlaw certain weapons. This also includes mercy to surrendering combatants.
Aquinas finally demands that the war and violence only be directed at military operations and not against civilians. This mirrors modern day war which considers attacks on civilians to war crimes.
Like Hitler, Putin fails on every criteria.
Hence the WW2and today’s war against Putin is justified. Christians must pray for an end of war, forgive their enemies, and promote peace, but if war is needed, good individuals must arise. The quote attributed to Edmond Burke but truly stated from John Stuart Mill proclaims, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. That is the rally cry to end pain and suffering when evil arises with the appropriate force of good Christian men and women to take up arms when history calls.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling
Sadness and its social expressions as well as interior manifestations help the body react to loss and help the body find the interior and social aid it needs to adjust to that loss. So while many hate to be sad, it is an important step in resolving loss and becoming adjusted to the loss. Anything worth of value that is taken will always cause this reaction of sadness in loss.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a grief counselor
In sharing the Gospel, converting others, defending the faith, or dialoging with others, communication is key. St Ignatius Loyola understood the extreme importance and went to great lengths about the philosophy that guides conversation and dialogue.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.
Mental health crisis can occur at any moment especially when tragedy or traumatic loss occurs. The crisis counselor is equipped with training to help individuals face the present crisis or deal with the suicidal ideas. Many crisis counselors are licensed counselors but many also work under the umbrella of an mental health organization at crisis centers. First responders are also sometimes trained in crisis intervention strategies.
What constitutes a mental crisis? Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Program and see if it meets your goals
The article, “What Is a Mental Health Crisis?” by Matthew Boland looks closer at the nature of a mental health crisis and how professionals help individuals deal with the crisis. He states,
“Others define a mental health emergency as a life threatening situation in which someone is a danger to themselves or others, while a crisis is non-life-threatening, but the person is still severely distressed. Some others say an emergency is someone attempting suicide, while a crisis is someone thinking about or planning suicide. Whether you call it a “mental health emergency,” “crisis,” or “mental breakdown,” people having these experiences need immediate support.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking training in Crisis Intervention.
For too long the stigma of grieving a pet as if losing a family member was looked upon as abnormal. This view is changing now and the grief of losing a pet is becoming more normally accepted as a significant loss. Too many times in the past it was marginalized as something small but the reality is pets are family and a loss of a pet is a painful loss.
The loss of a pet is a true loss. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program and see if it meets your goals
The article, “Why it’s time to normalise grieving the loss of a pet” by Evalyn Lewin looks at why it is time to no longer disenfranchise pet loss. She states,
“If your loved one is grieving the loss of their pet, Magri recommends acknowledging their pain and validating their feelings. If you’re the one struggling after the loss of a pet, reach out to people in similar situations by joining Facebook pages dedicated to pet loss, or by attending support groups or counselling. And if you’re worried about your mental health, talk to your GP.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
