Healing Through Spirituality – A Holistic Approach to Mental Wellness
Spirituality is a powerful pillar of healing — but how does it fit into mental health therapy?
In a fast-paced world focused on results and productivity, many are searching for something deeper: meaning, peace, and connection. For many, that sense of grounding comes through spirituality. Whether religious or not, spirituality is a deeply personal journey that can transform your mental and emotional wellbeing.
What Is Spirituality in Mental Health?
Spirituality involves a connection to something greater than oneself — whether that’s faith in God, a sense of universal connection, or a commitment to living in alignment with core values. It’s not confined to religion, but for many people (including myself), faith and spirituality are beautifully intertwined.
Spiritual practices can include:
Daily prayer or meditation
Reading sacred texts or reflective journaling
Acts of service and compassion
Spending time in nature or solitude
Connecting with a higher power through community and ritual
These practices offer inner peace, structure, and purpose — all of which play a vital role in psychological resilience.
What the Research Shows
A wide body of international research supports the mental health benefits of spirituality:
A 2015 study published in The Journal of Affective Disorders found that individuals who rated spirituality as important had thicker brain cortices in regions linked to emotion regulation and stress tolerance.
A Harvard Medical School review highlighted that spiritual practices such as prayer or meditation reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD — especially when integrated into therapy.
Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that holistic mental health must include the spiritual dimension of care to be truly comprehensive.
Why Spirituality Matters in Therapy
In therapy, spirituality can:
Help you make sense of suffering and trauma
Offer comfort during grief and loss
Reinforce a sense of hope and purpose
Strengthen values-based decision making
Whether you're Muslim, Christian, spiritual-but-not-religious, or still exploring, your worldview matters in therapy. A therapist who honors that — without judgment — helps you heal from the inside out.
As a practicing Muslim and nurse psychotherapist, I hold space for my clients' spiritual experiences as a sacred part of the healing process. Therapy is not just mind work — it's heart and soul work too.
A Note to My Muslim Readers
Islam encourages reflection, connection with Allah (SWT), and caring for one's emotional wellbeing.
Even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) experienced grief, stress, and hardship. His responses — through prayer, community, sabr (patience), and du’a — remind us that faith and healing go hand in hand.
Therapy can support your iman (faith), not weaken it. And in a safe, culturally-sensitive environment, your values will always be respected.
A Holistic Approach Is Powerful
You are not just a mind. You are a heart, a soul, and a body. True healing addresses all parts of you — including the parts seeking spiritual nourishment.
If you're looking for a therapist who honors your spiritual identity, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
Visit hptherapy.ca to connect or BookNow when you’re ready.
Written by Ibrahim Al-Sadi, RN, Nurse Psychotherapist
Spiritual Integration | CBT | DBT | Trauma-Informed | Adults & Adolescents