23/10/2026
What does it look like to integrate spiritual practices into therapy? Let’s chat about it!
You have a toxic ex, you come to therapy because you can’t stay away. You know they are not good for you but when things are really good you dismiss the bad saying “maybe this time they will change” or “I think they truly it this time”. We talk about the patterns, we discuss attachment wounds that came from childhood, unmet needs, low self esteem, other toxic relationships, we discuss healthy boundaries, communication, the cycle of abuse. Mentally you get it but you want to do something that symbolizes the letting go of this relationship…here’s what I would suggest as a Spiritually oriented, trauma informed therapist.
A Cord cutting- starting with intention write down what you are wanting to release, write down how you are calling back your power. This is setting intention. We then bring in candles and do a self empowerment meditation geared towards your intentions of release. We light the candles and watch the release while also noticing what we feel in our bodies.
Many individuals find that pairing a symbolic practice with the clinical evidenced based therapeutic work takes things to the next level. How does this particular scenario fall under a clinical lens?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Uses mindfulness, metaphors, and experiential exercises to help us release unhealthy attachments, recognize what is within our control, and make choices that align with our values.
Gestalt Therapy: Focuses on awareness, emotional processing, and unresolved experiences. Symbolic exercises can help us explore unfinished emotional business, relational patterns, and the boundaries we may need to establish.
Guided Imagery: Uses visualization to help us process emotions, strengthen our sense of autonomy, and create a symbolic representation of releasing what we no longer want to carry.
Now, does this mean cord cutting itself is an evidence-based treatment? No. But it does mean we can understand and incorporate symbolic practices through established therapeutic frameworks, while being mindful of what the research does and does not support.
We don’t have to dismiss the significance of a spiritual practice to understand it through a psychological lens. And we don’t have to abandon clinical integrity to recognize that healing can be experienced in more ways than one.
