The Missing Piece in Psychotherapy: Integrating Spirituality

In my work as a therapist, I often hear clients say they feel stuck, lost, or disconnected. They’re showing up, doing the work, even making changes—but something still feels off or incomplete. For a long time, I thought this missing piece might be passion, purpose, or routine. But over time, and through my own journey, I’ve come to see that what’s often missing is something much deeper: spirituality.

Spirituality, in this context, doesn’t necessarily refer to religion. It’s not about doctrine or belief systems. It’s about connecting to something greater than the physical world—something timeless, unchanging, and deeply personal. Whether a client identifies this as energy, the universe, their essence, God, nature, or their own sense of inner wisdom, it often leads to a renewed sense of clarity, resilience, and purpose.

When this part of the self is excluded from the healing process, therapy can begin to feel like symptom management instead of deep transformation.

What the Research Shows

There’s growing empirical support for the integration of spirituality in therapy:

• A 2021 meta-analysis in Spirituality in Clinical Practice found that spiritually integrated therapy significantly improved symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD compared to non-spiritual interventions.

• A study in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that 84% of clients receiving spiritually integrated psychotherapy reported enhanced emotional well-being, compared to 53% in standard care.

• Other studies have shown greater treatment retention and increased meaning-making in clients who explore spirituality in tandem with therapeutic work.

This doesn’t mean introducing religious content into sessions—it means making space for clients to explore personal meaning, purpose, and connection in ways that resonate with them.

Spirituality Across Traditions: A Shared Language of Healing

Spirituality has been a part of healing traditions for thousands of years. From mindfulness-based practices rooted in Buddhism to yogic philosophies, from Indigenous wisdom to the symbolic teachings of Kabbalah, there's a shared recognition that true healing comes from addressing more than just the physical or psychological self.

While each tradition uses different language or imagery, they all reflect a shared truth: that we are not only our bodies or our thoughts—we are also spirit. When we make space for this inner essence in therapy, we invite a deeper kind of healing—one that honours our full human experience while guiding us back to a sense of oneness.

Closing Thoughts: Inviting the Soul Into the Process

When clients tell me they feel numb, lost, or disconnected, I’ve come to understand that what they may be experiencing is a loss of spiritual connection. I used to think they simply needed more passion or purpose—but now I believe passion and purpose are often the result of reconnecting to something greater than the physical world. When that spiritual thread is missing, life can feel flat, no matter how full it appears on the surface.

This doesn’t mean introducing beliefs into therapy. It means asking meaningful questions. It means honouring the full human experience—mind, body, and what some would call the soul.

At Checking In Counselling & Consulting, we recognize that this inner dimension matters. And we’re here to hold space for it—ethically, respectfully, and always at the client’s pace.

If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain, you’re not alone. You may simply be ready to explore a deeper part of yourself. And we’re here to support that process.

Amanda