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Spiritual and Psychological Inventory

Kimberlee Gann

Purdue University Global

HW420

Dorette Nysewander, EdD

1/19/2021
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Spiritual and Psychological Inventory

Developing a health and wellness paradigm or plan, is essential in charting how your

health is going. In order to know where you client is coming from an inventory or questionnaire

is a good place to start. Once the inventory is complete, then the health coach and client can

discuss further anything that needs to happen next. Such as further resources recommended by

the health professional, referrals and programs. A client needs an inventory so the health coach

knows where to start, it helps the client to be in the right state of mind and can make sure none of

the spiritual or psychological issues get left out for further therapy.

Questions

The first question I asked was May I ask your faith background? I asked this as a starting

point to reference everything else I was going to ask. The second question I asked was Do you

have a spiritual or faith belief? I wanted to know what their beliefs are and how that molds them

as a person. Thirdly, I asked What helps you through hard times? I thought that this could shed

some light as to whether their faith and spirituality was helping their health or not. Number 4

was Do you feel that your spiritual health is affecting your physical health? I asked this because

I feel as a health professional that it is important what the patient thinks. Number 5 is Does your

spirituality impact the health decisions you make? I wanted to know if the person believed that

because of their spiritual beliefs they make certain decisions about their health like eating

healthier or more physical activities. Number six was Do you have spiritual practices such as

praying, meditating, listening to music or reading sacred texts that you find helpful or

comforting? This was asked to help the patient if they need direction as to what kind of spiritual

practices to suggest if they need comfort or help. Also, to see if they have problems being

comforted. Next, I asked What gives your life meaning? This was a hard one to ask, because I
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believe some people will say, that they don’t know. I wanted to know if they found something

that gave them meaning. It’s a nice jumping off point. Number 8 was What does mental health

mean to you? I wanted to know if they knew what mental health was, do they think it’s

important? I then asked if they believed it was the same as happiness. I wanted to see if there

perspective was spot on or was in a little skewed. Then follow up question I asked to that was Is

mental health the absence of mental illness? Sometimes I think we have that misperception and I

think it is important to have a starting place when talking about mental health. Number 11 I

asked have you ever experience a terrible occurrence that has impacted you significantly? This

is important to ask because it allows the health professional to see things from the patients past

experiences. The last question I asked was “Would you say the coping or comforting practices

you mentioned earlier helps with your significant occurrences? I know this question is not open

ended but a health professional needs to know if a patient’s spiritual practices are meeting a need

on what to recommend for the patient to add to their health plan.

Interview1

Question 1 May I ask your faith background? This question was answered as yes, I am an

apathetic atheist which believes I am a white witch and green witch, and I am practicing

witchcraft. Question 2; Do you have a spiritual or faith belief ? She answered She has a

connection to herself and world. She sees her shadow self. This spirituality helps her connect to

nature. Number 2 is What helps you through hard times? She said writing down plans in a

planner, self-care, journaling and taking the time for herself. Question number 4 is Do you feel

your spiritual health is affecting your physical health? Yes, when she does more yoga, she feels

more cared for. Taking care of her body helps her soul feel cared for. Number 5 question: Does
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your spirituality impact the health decisions you make? She didn’t think that her spirituality

impacted her health decisions. Number 6 is Do you have spiritual practices such as praying,

meditating, listening to music or reading sacred texts that you find helpful or comforting? She

said yes, she has books, pdf’s, she meditates, sings to her plants, mantra’s while brushing her

hair and small things she does. Number 7 is What gives your life meaning? She mentioned

finding love, happiness, and for others after her to find meaning. Love she receives and gives.

The care she can show to others. Number 8 question was What does mental health mean to you?

Physical health is intertwined, taking care to acknowledge her issues, medication didn’t work for

her, scheduling, art, taking care of herself. Recognizing that she is extroverted, empathic and

distancing herself from others when she feels overwhelmed. Number 9 question is the follow up

question about is mental health the same as happiness. And she stated that mental health is a

state of mind, neutral. Her happiness is situational and part of her mental health but not the

same. Number 10 question is What do you believe about mental health being the absence of

mental illness? And she said No, finding ways to combat your mental illness because I combat

them daily. Question 11 is Have you ever experiences a terrible occurrence that has impacted

you significantly? She answered the divorce of my parents impacted me more than I thought,

she was assaulted twice and her three car accidents. The last question I asked as a follow up to

number 11 was Would you say the coping or comforting practices you mentioned earlier helps

with your significant occurrence? She answered that she did not think her spiritual practices help

with her issues. These findings could be incorporated for mind-body-spirit health by having a

jumping off point to talk about what is missing in her paradigm, which is a plan where one

focuses on several key factors; such as emotional, occupational, physical, social, intellectual, and

spiritual health (Projecthelping.org, 2016). The things she needs to add to her plan for health
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starts with where a person is already. She is already doing some wonderful things for her mind

and spirit. Now she needs to add in some things for her body such as nutritious food and regular

physical activity. Next, we would talk about how her occupation is going and then her

intellectual pursuits. These findings could show her the whole picture of what she is doing well

and what needs improvement to keep pushing towards health. To help ones’ client find and

pinpoint their moral compass (Formica, 2008). This is also important to see if they have an idea

of what the meaning of life is and are, they pursuing this meaning through things they can

tangibly do. When a client knows what gives their life meaning and is consistently working

toward their goals, they will be more positive (Puchalaski, 2001.). Wellness is when one is

flourishing. Our whole body is balanced, our mind body and spirit, all aligned. We are content,

full of energy and calm (CSH.UMN.edu, 2021).

Inventory. I believe that I should ask some more questions at the end of the inventory

such as Would you like any suggestions as to additional spiritual practices you could try? Or It

sounds like maybe we could try adding in some helpful or comforting ideas to help with your

significant occurrence. The client also mentioned that she thought number 4 and 5 seemed like

the same question. I don’t think they are but maybe I could phrase them a little different or not

have them right next to each other. I think when I asked her if her spirituality affected the health

decisions she made maybe being that,, she is a witch it might not have applied to my client. I felt

like that I wanted to help my client further and I realize this is just the process of being a health

coach, ask questions first and then sit down with them and discuss options after I review their

questionnaire.

Health Plan. In essence, the health plan is a model that can be used for the rest of ones’

life. We always are needing a tune up. Just like our teeth need to continually be cleaned and
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then going to a checkup at the dentist. A questionnaire is a good place to find out where a client

is psychologically and spiritually in their life. From that point, a discussion can take place about

the answers to the questions. More questions can be asked as well on both sides. Questionnaires

need to continually be updated to make the maximum benefits happen in their clinics or

corporations. When we are well, we are thriving, not just without disease. There is a huge

difference when our body mind and spirit are all connected and whole. When one finds that

connection, then one finds wellness.

References

Heller, R. (2016). What is spiritual materialism? https://pro.psychcentral.com/what-is-

spiritual-materialism/

Hicks, M., & Tran-Parsons, U. (2013). Spiritual development as a social good. New

Directions, 2013(144), 87-95.

http://search.ebscohost.com.libauth.purdueglobal.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=tfh&AN=93278769&site=eds-live

Leonard, B. & Carlson, D. (2013). Spirituality in healthcare.

https://www.csh.umn.edu/education/online-modules-and-resources/learning-modules-

healthcare-professionals

Mayo Clinic. (2017). Stress management. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-

management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950?pg=1

Project helping.org. (2016). The wellness paradigm. https://projecthelping.org/treatment-

paradigm-vs-wellness-paradigm/

Puchalaski, M. (2001). The role of spirituality in healthcare.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/

Formica, M. (2008). Cutting through spiritual materialism. psychologytoday.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/enlightened-living/200812/cutting-through-

spiritual-materialism.
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