On Creating & Using Ritual in Psychotherapy

Photo Credit: Kier Insight Archives | Unpslash

As a spiritually-oriented psychotherapist and expressive arts therapist for women, one of my favorite tools to share with clients is ritual. Ritual can be powerful, creative and … fun. (Yes, it’s true - therapy an be enjoyable!)

While the term ritual often gets conflated with solemn religious traditions or Woo-Woo gatherings, both of which can be hugely supportive, and of which I have often participated btw, ritual can really be any activity that is infused with intention and is meaningful to the person performing it. It's another approach to working with the symbolic, not unlike making art or using guided imagery in therapeutic work. 

Practical Magic to Heal and Help

So, what might a ritual look like in these times? The needs are many and the creative possibilities are endless. Here are just a handful of themes that are often explored in creating ritual.

• Intention-setting

• Honoring transitions

• Grief practices

• Letting go

• Setting Boundaries

• Grounding (for anxiety and stress)

• Energetic/Mood Cleansing

But everyday needs can also be supported through the use of simple rituals. For instance, you may feel inspired to create a ritual to demarcate the end of your work week with a meditation, prayer and saltwater bath. Even more simple, some folks, including myself, create morning rituals to practice gratitude and connect spiritually, whatever that means to the individual.

Other folks use cleaning and organizing their space as part of a ritual, holding that our outer space reflects the state of our inner lives and vice versa. While other people set aside each day to use tarot cards and oracle decks to tap into their higher selves a/o higher power.

Credit: Annie Spratt

How to get started with Ritual

Here are a couple of prompts to consider when designing and implementing your own ritual:

1. Ask yourself how are you feeling and what do you need help with? 

2. What is your intention for the ritual?

3. What symbols resonate? What materials do you need?

4. When will I set aside time to practice my ritual?

5. Reflect: How did the ritual feel? Do I need to change anything?

Lastly, if you feel drawn to this practice but still aren't sure where to start, I would suggest doing some research on common ritual practices that may provide some inspiration. Information on the use of ritual for psycho-spiritual purposes abounds these days, but one book that has stood out is Light Magic for Dark Times: More than 100 Spells, Rituals and Practices for Coping in a Crisis by Lisa Marie Bastile. 

Accessing Spiritually-Oriented Therapy in San Diego and Beyond

I often work with clients to create personalized ritual to support their psycho-spiritual health, so please know I am available to support you as well. My psychotherapy practice, based in San Diego, serves women and teen girls throughout the state of California. My approach is holistic and tailored to each client’s needs and goals. If you're interested in learning more about how I work with women and girls around this very topic, please feel free to reach out. I'd love to hear from you. 

Till next time, wishing you all health and ease,

Jessika

Photo Credit: Zoltan Tasi

Other services offered by Jessika Fruchter, LMFT- Therapy for Women and Girls

Groups and Workshops for Women: Magic happens when women come together! I offer new groups and workshops quarterly, both online and in-person. Topics and themes have included: 

• Therapeutic Writing

• Mask Making

• Tarot Practice for Developing Intuition

• Women’s Circles

Clinical Consultation for Therapists:

I specialize in collaborating with clinicians who want to integrate expressive arts therapy or psychospiritual practices such as tarot therapy, dreamwork, altar making, and ritual, into their practices. I also offer training on these topics. To learn more about my offerings for clinicians visit: www.mycreativepractice.com. 

Training for Psychotherapists:

I have a passion for providing creative and useful training to teams on the front line of community mental health and in private practice. Past trainings have focused on trauma-informed expressive arts therapy interventions and burnout prevention. Additionally, I offer trainings in spiritually-integrated therapy. If you are interested in my next training on using Ritual in Clinical Practice, click here. Training may also be developed/tailored based on the unique need of the team. Contact me here. 

Books and Blogs:

Check out my first book project for teens published in September 2021. For articles and essays about women’s mental health and wellness, check out my blog, Say More and you can also subscribe to receive the latest updates.