Unit 9 Assignment: Interview, Assessment, and Client Development

Daniela Maarraoui

Purdue University Global

HW420: Creating Wellness: Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing

Professor Ebony Berry

February 13, 2023

 Introduction

Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between one’s spiritual health

and overall mental and psychological well-being (Bozek et al., 2020). In fact, it has been shown

that “both spirituality and health-related behaviors are positively related to psychological well-

being” (Bozek et al., 2020, para. 1). Many individuals are very quick to dismiss their spiritual

and psychological health because they do not realize how much their spiritual and psychological

well-being impacts their overall wellness. Therefore, in order to truly help individuals reach their

potential wellness, it is necessary to see where they stand on a spiritual and psychological level.

In this paper, I will formulate an inventory of spiritual and psychological health questions to

assess and evaluate my interviewee’s current state of psychological and spiritual well-being.

Furthermore, a spiritual and psychological growth development plan will be devised based on

my interviewee’s answers so that my client can further strengthen her spiritual and psychological

well-being, thus improving her overall wellness.

Inventory Questions for Spirituality and Psychological Health

1. What does wellness/well-being mean to you?

In order to garner a proper understanding of where someone stands spiritually and

psychologically, it is essential to gather a deep understanding of what wellness and well-being

mean to an individual. Many people are surprised to learn that wellness includes much more than

just the physical aspect of someone’s life and is more than just the absence of a disease or illness

(Better Health, 2022). In fact, every aspect of an individual and their life impacts their well-being

(Better Health, 2022). This question is critical as it reveals how well one is doing spiritually and

psychologically and if one can recognize how their spiritual and psychological well-being
impacts their overall wellness. When individuals understand that wellness and well-being

encompass seven dimensions (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental,

and occupational well-being), they can understand the importance of wellness in their life.

Knowing the full spectrum of wellness is crucial in unlocking their fullest potential as human

beings (Grand Rapids Community College, 2022). As an interviewer, this question is valuable as

it will reveal what needs to be taught to the interviewee regarding wellness.

2. Do you believe in something greater than yourself?

This was a very important question to add to the inventory questions regarding

spirituality and psychological health. Believing in something greater than oneself gives meaning

and purpose to one’s life, a sense of interconnectedness to all humanity, and an empowered

acceptance of death. Living daily with short-term purposes and beliefs, such as money or

personal glory, can only last so long, and eventually, motivation and enthusiasm will dwindle

(Donnelly, 2017). Instead, living for a purpose and believing in something greater than oneself

provides a long-term motivation that will help achieve an inner peace of mind and satisfaction.

Furthermore, knowing whether or not a person believes in something greater can reveal a lot

about their actions and state of well-being because, oftentimes, individuals act upon their beliefs

and values.

3. What role does Faith play in your life, if at all?

Knowing whether or not Faith is a part of someone’s life can reveal a lot about one’s

spiritual and psychological health and where they lie on the spectrum. This question is valuable

as Faith is an act of confidence and “involves the ability to place full trust and confidence in

either someone or something” (Davis, 2017, para. 1). Faith is often the driving force that can
keep people going in times of darkness and hardship. Faith offers a sense of hope, comfort, and

optimism that can help bring about motivation, trust, confidence, identity, and happiness in one’s

life.

4. When life gets hard, what or who do you lean on?

All individuals go through tough times. It is important, however, to always have

something or someone to turn to during these difficult times to help keep one’s spirits high, offer

advice, or propose a new perspective. This question reveals whether or not my interviewee has

someone or something they trust enough to turn to during difficult times. It is important always

to have an outlet to talk through things, come up with ideas, or reveal their inner worries,

thoughts, and emotions. Learning whether or not my interviewee has an outlet is vital for

planning her spiritual and psychological growth development plan.

5. How do you handle stress?

Just like everyone will encounter difficult times, everyone will experience stress at one

point or another. Stress is actually necessary at times and completely healthy when handled

correctly. When managed, a little bit of stress can be used to motivate and challenge one to meet

their goals, which ultimately brings about fulfillment and happiness. This question is meant to

see how my interviewee handles stress and whether or not her mode of managing it is

detrimental or beneficial to her health. The answer to this question will reveal a lot about my

interviewee's overall well-being because how she copes and responds to stress uncovers a lot

about her mental and psychological state.

6. Do you see yourself as an optimist or pessimist? Explain.

 Spiritual and psychological well-being is enhanced when a person is entirely in tune with

their present situation, outlook on life, and the journey ahead. This question is valuable to

include in the inventory as it reveals my interviewee’s perspective on life, especially when times

become challenging. This question reveals one’s self-awareness and current state of mind.

Whether or not my interviewee is a pessimist or optimist reveals a lot about her spiritual and

psychological well-being and lets me know what steps I can take to improve her outlook on life.

In order to truly gain a healthy spiritual and psychological well-being, one must learn how to

remain positive and keep spirits high in challenging and difficult times.

7. What are your biggest doubts at the moment?

It is almost inevitable to have doubts and questions in life. Having a little bit of doubt is

important as it helps challenge the status quo, ask new questions, overcome fears, and is an

excellent incentive for personal growth. Doubt, in certain circumstances, can even provide fuel to

push past certain boundaries. However, too much doubt can cause problems and can become

paralyzing. This question will reveal the problems my interviewee is facing and ways I can help

her overcome her doubts and worries. Furthermore, knowing the doubts and uncertainties

hindering or preventing my interviewee from growing will help me identify the areas I need to

address to reconcile her spiritual and psychological health.

8. Do you believe yourself to be emotionally healthy?

Many people are very well-versed in describing how healthy they are physically, but they

often overlook how healthy they are doing emotionally. Emotional health can be just as, if not

more important, than physical health as emotional health directly impacts one’s confidence, work

productivity, and way of handling life’s stresses. This question will challenge my interviewee to
truly look into their emotional well-being, and it will give me a good gauge of where my

interviewee stands in regard to their emotional health. From the answers, I can formulate areas of

the developmental plan that may need to focus on her emotional well-being.

9. What current practices do you do to nurture and maintain your psychological and spiritual

well-being?

Having hobbies, interests, and practices that enhance one’s psychological and spiritual

well-being is very important. These practices include journaling, going on nature walks,

meditating, or even doing yoga. Knowing whether or not my interviewee has practices she

incorporates into her life will reveal how much she prioritizes her psychological and spiritual

well-being.

10. Do you have a sense of belonging? Explain.

Having a sense of belonging is one of the most fundamental aspects of being a human

being. Without this sense of belonging, there would be no society, family, community, or even

organized government (Theisen, 2021). Having a sense of belonging is directly tied to one’s

physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and psychological health (Theisen, 2021). Having social

ties and being a part of a community can help individuals manage stress, feel support, provide

protection, become more resilient, and cope with difficult times (Theisen, 2021). On the other

hand, a lack of sense of belonging often leads to mental conditions, such as anxiety and

depression, since these “conditions can lead to social behaviors that interfere with a person’s

ability to connect to others, creating a cycle of events that further weakens a sense of belonging”

(Theisen, 2021, para. 7). This question will reveal how my interviewee views themselves in
regards to their relationships, connections, and community, and will also help gather information

on their emotional and psychological well-being.

My Interviewee’s Answers to My Inventory Questions

For my interview, I decided to interview my 31-year-old sister, who lives in Houston,

Texas. She is the person I always turn to for help, and I wanted to hear her answers since she is

going through a very transitional time in her life. She is currently seven months pregnant and has

recently been promoted to director in her job. As a practitioner, I believe she can benefit

significantly from a spiritual and psychological wellness plan.

What does wellness/ well-being mean to you?

Response: To me, wellness means a healthy and balanced state of physical, mental,

emotional, and spiritual well-being. Being happy with myself, giving back to my community,

and serving others increases my wellness.

Do you believe in something that is greater than yourself?

Response: Yes, I don’t believe in a God, but I do believe in an energy that ties in all of

humanity together. I believe there is a greater good out there.

What role does Faith play in your life, if at all?

Response: Faith in my life means service to others. By serving others and giving back to

my community, I feel as though my Faith is deepened.

When life gets hard, what or who do you lean on?

 Response: When life gets hard, I definitely lean on my family, therapy, and routine. I

always try to make sure I talk to my family, eat regularly, move my body in some way, and get

back to my daily routine.

How do you handle stress?

Response: I handle stress through physical activity, listening to music, talking to my

family and friends, reaching out to my community, moving my body in some way (either

walking or in my group activity classes), and eating good food. Recently, I have also focused on

breathing because I find that when I am stressed, I tend to hold my breath.

Do you see yourself as an optimist or pessimist? Explain.

Response: I definitely believe I am an optimist. I believe there is good in the world, and

humanity is good.

What are your biggest doubts at the moment?

Response: At the moment, I fear that mental well-being will be super affected by giving

birth. I have been able to finally maintain a good mental well-being, but I am doubting my ability

to continue this balance after giving birth.

Do you believe yourself to be emotionally healthy?

Response: Yes, I do. I have found a routine that works for me and keeps me very

emotionally happy and engaged. Through therapy, I have also developed the skills to notice

when I start to get off track earlier and how to counterbalance my emotions to keep me

emotionally regulated.
What current practices do you do to nurture and maintain your psychological and spiritual

well-being?

Response: My current practices include going on walks, being outside, taking Pilates,

focusing on breathing, and listening to something at night to wind down. These practices have

helped me connect with my body quicker and have helped me feel more in control of my psyche.

These practices have also helped me to not believe every thought that comes into my head. In the

past, it was very easy to become convinced by any thought that came into my head, but now I

can differentiate between my physical and psychological thoughts and emotions.

Do you have a sense of belonging? Explain.

Response: Yes, having a sense of belonging is very important to well-being. I feel like I

belong in the space and community that I am in and, more importantly, in my body. I finally feel

at home and safe in my own body, which has helped strengthen my sense of belonging,

community, and relationships with others.

Creating a Spiritual and Psychological Growth Development Plan from Answers

As a practitioner, I found my interviewee’s answers to be very enlightening. I learned a

lot about my sister’s strengths and weaknesses. From her answers, I gathered that she is an

individual who relies a lot on the community around her. She is an optimist who always sees the

good in humanity. While she does not believe in a specific God or Being, she does believe in a

bigger energy that connects all of humanity together. Furthermore, her prominent ways of coping

with stress are talking to her loved ones, moving her body, having a routine that she can fall back

on, and breathing. She has a great definition of what wellness means and acknowledges that it
includes much more than physical health. For her, wellness means having a good balance

between her physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Currently, her greatest doubt is being

able to maintain her current state of mental well-being after giving birth. She has finally found a

way to balance her emotions and find clarity after many therapy treatments and is doubting her

ability to maintain this clarity once she gives birth.

I believe my interviewee has excellent self-awareness and recognizes the steps she needs

to take to maintain good emotional, physical, and mental well-being. For her spiritual and

psychological growth development plan, I would encourage her to continue to lean on her coping

mechanisms to handle stress, as they suit her very well. However, I would also encourage her to

try new and alternate methods, such as journaling and meditating, which she has been very

hesitant to try in the past. My sister is very rigid in her ways, sticks to what she knows, and is

often not very open to new ideas. I would challenge her to try new methods for developing her

spirituality and psychological health by offering alternative solutions to going about different

situations. Especially now, because her life is about to change drastically with a new baby, I

believe she needs to learn how to be flexible and open-minded and learn how to cope with

changes when life does not go as planned. Being able to adapt to the changes around her is vital

to maintaining her psychological health, which will simultaneously allow her to deepen her

spirituality and trust in herself.

Ethical Considerations

Two ethical considerations I would need to make as the wellness professional when

interviewing my interviewee and developing this plan are being aware of my personal

relationship with my sister and avoiding any conflict of interest she may have with her current
therapist. My interviewee is my sister; therefore, I have a very personal relationship with her and

know a lot about her past, her situation, and her family. It can become very difficult to not let my

personal thoughts, relationship with her, and opinions get in the way of making an objective plan

for her. For this reason, I need to be hyper-aware of my decisions and be honest with myself that

I am not letting my own relationship and opinion of her get in the way of developing a plan for

her. Another ethical consideration I need to keep in mind is knowing that she goes to therapy

each week. I would need to keep this in mind and make sure the wellness advice and

developmental plan I am giving her do not contradict the advice that she is receiving from her

therapist. Knowing these ethical considerations is crucial when developing this plan.

Additions and Subtractions Based on Results

Knowing my interviewee’s answers and knowing how advanced her definition of

wellness is, I would definitely add more questions regarding the seven dimensions of wellness.

By asking more questions about the seven dimensions of wellness, I could pinpoint areas in her

life that may need improvement, such as the environmental, financial, emotional, or social

aspects of her life. By asking subsequent questions regarding the dimensions of wellness, I can

create a more individualized and unique developmental plan that would be focused on the areas

of wellness that needs the most improvement.

Regarding which questions I would subtract from my inventory based on my

interviewee’s answers, I would concise the questions about how she handles her stress, how she

views her emotional health, and her current practices. Based on her very similar answers to all of

these questions, I believe it would be beneficial to combine these questions into one, as the

answers were all very similar to each other. Instead of separating and asking these questions, I
could avoid repetition and formulate a more thought-out question that involves my interviewee’s

emotional health, coping mechanisms for stress, and current spiritual and psychological

practices. This would then allow me to come up with other questions in my inventory that could

be more useful in helping to develop a spiritual and psychological growth development plan.

Conclusion

In this paper, an inventory of questions related to spiritual and psychological health was

developed in order to properly assess where my interviewee stands in her spiritual and

psychological health. I chose to interview my older sister as she is going through a very pivotal

and transitional point in her life and could benefit from following a developmental growth plan. I

learned a lot about her coping mechanisms, her beliefs, her strengths, her weaknesses, and her

worries through her answers and was able to identify areas that she can improve upon to deepen

her spiritual and psychological well-being. While there are a few improvements I can make on

my part regarding my questions and ethical considerations I have to make, my hope is that I was

able to offer advice and a good plan to follow that will help my sister deepen her spirituality and

psychological well-being.
 References

Better Health. (2022, October 14). Wellbeing. The Victorian Government: Department of Health.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/wellbeing

Bozek, A., Nowak, P., & Blukacz, M. (2020, August 14). The relationship between spirituality,

health-related behavior, and psychological well-being. Health Psychology, (11).

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01997/full

Davis, R. (2017, November 9). Are faith and spirituality the same? Raising Self-Awareness.

https://raisingselfawareness.com/faith-spirituality-same/

Donnelly, D. (2017, September 28). Sports for the soul. Shamrock New Media.

https://sportsforthesoul.com/purpose-greater-than-yourself/

Grand Rapids Community College. (2022). Seven dimensions of wellness

GRCC. https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/professional-development/

employee-wellness/seven-dimensions-wellness

Theisen, A. (2021, December 8). Is having a sense of belonging important? Mayo Clinic Health

System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/

is-having-a-sense-of-belonging-important#:~:text=The%20social%20ties%20that

%20accompany,difficult%20times%20in%20our%20lives