HW420 Final Project

A Personal Application of the Psychological & Spiritual Aspects of Healing


HW420 Unit 9 Final Project by Deborah Cox

Introduction….Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually, and physically? What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

When we first visit a healthcare professional or a complimentary practitioner of any kind, the first impression is probably the most important to us. If they don’t exemplify all that they stand for then we are not likely to respect what they are telling us. I think it is of the utmost importance that in this profession one must not only talk the talk but they must walk the walk. A practitioner or teacher of health and wellness must set a good example and also be able to establish a trusting relationship with the patient or client, the communication needs to be open and honest with regard to both sides. I would eventually love to work with kids in the area of wellness, like nutrition counseling and self esteem building for instance. I need to develop all three areas to my full potential as best I can so I make a lasting impression on any child that I should counsel or teach, I want to be able to give them tools to create and live a wonderful adulthood, and I must gain their respect.

Assessment….How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

On a scale of one to ten my spiritual life is about an eight. I am a Christian believer and my faith is a very big part of my life, my prayer time and my intimate friendship with God is the stability in my life, and it’s the one constant thing I know I can count on. Psychologically I would rate my mental health at about 6 or 7. I, like any other have had my share of hardships and pain and I tend to let my emotions get the best of me. I tend to give in to anger and frustration more often that I would like. My physical health is the area I need the most work in. I do have some health issues that I have no control over but the areas I can take control of are my weight and my smoking addiction, so I would rate my physical health at about 4, because I need to loose weight, build strength, and conquer the smoking.

Goal Development….List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.

Physical…my goal is to loose at least 50 pounds and increase my muscle strength and overall fitness level. I want to be smoke free by the end of this year, my birthday is in September and this is my gift to myself, designing and implementing an authentic journey to wellness.

Psychological...my goal is to learn to prioritize things and people in my life a little better, starting with myself, and to set clearer boundaries by learning to say no more, and concentrating on building my self esteem. I don’t want to seem selfish to others but this has always been an area that has stressed me, because I tend to put everything else ahead of what I need, and now is the time for me to make changes.

Spiritual…my goal is too increase my prayer time and I have always wanted to read the bible all the way through. I also want to increase my reflection and meditation time and find what really works for me in the area of relaxation.

Practices for personal health….What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

Physical…I will set aside time each day to do some exercises such as walking. I also love music, dancing, and recently took an interest in tai chi. I want to take a class but for now I will practice on my own. I am setting up a plan for smoking cessation that includes setting a date, and implementing the support of a group counselor and my family and friends.

Psychological….I will add positive and encouraging affirmations to my reflection time. I can do this by gathering inspirational material such as quotes, and other things I find beautiful and joyful, and not only having them close at hand but also posting them around my home. I am working on learning how not to sweat the small stuff, learning to let go of petty things that are not worth the stress, anger, or anxiety. Another biggie for me is to stop blaming others in my life and my past experiences for my feelings or circumstances. I need to take ownership.

Spiritual….I will make sure I allow myself enough time each day to practice my meditation and relaxation techniques, and increase my awareness of the simple pleasures. In such busy and hectic times we tend to fly through life without stopping to smell the flowers so to speak. I will make sure each day to find pleasure and joy in small things we sometimes take for granted.

How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months? What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

I am creating a space in my home that is comfortable and surrounded with my favorite things, things that bring me joy and happiness, a candle, my plants, pictures of grandchildren, etc, that’s just for me. I will keep a journal and I will post this writing as a commitment reminder, I can also ask family and friends for support, encouragement, and feedback.