As Fall invites us to slow down, I take stock of my inner experience. There is something about this time of year that prompts reflection on the cycles of harvest, letting go, transition, and stillness.
People have long used stories and rituals to make sense of life’s complexities– pain, grief, trauma, love, and loss. Spirituality can guide us to sit with questions that do not have easy answers. It can help us make meaning from suffering, stay connected to those we have lost, and find a sense of belonging.
Spirituality often looks different from person to person. For some, it might be experienced beneath the arches of a chapel. For others, it might be found while watching the leaves change or while noticing the bark of a tree in their backyard. Maybe its felt in intentional movement and reconnection to your body and senses. Spirituality need not belong to a particular religion or belief system. It can be as simple as an experience of connection, meaning, presence, wonder, or reverence.
I see spirituality reflected in the therapeutic process. We all develop ways of thinking, feeling, and responding that are shaped by our experiences and, often, by our efforts to protect ourselves and navigate the world around us. Beneath these patterns, many therapeutic traditions point toward our capacity to slow down, become curious about our inner experiences, and meet ourselves with compassion. Healing and growth does not always mean changing who we are; sometimes, it means slowing down to reconnect with the parts of ourselves that have been there all along.
As we move into the Fall season, let's follow nature’s lead. We can change with the season, allowing ourselves to slow down, rest, and let go. These shifts are integral to our growth.
To help us reflect in this time, here are a few questions to carry with us into the season:
What gives me a sense of connection to something larger than myself?
Where do I experience wonder or belonging?
What beliefs or stories have helped me make sense of difficult experiences?
What am I being invited to let go of in this season of my life?
Where might I practice more curiosity, compassion, or stillness with myself?
Anna Rose takes a warm, compassionate, and relational approach to therapy, helping clients strengthen connections with themselves and others. She works with individuals, couples, children, and families navigating anxiety, life transitions, parenting, chronic illness, and relationship challenges. She has a particular passion for supporting parents and families through the perinatal and postpartum periods. Anna Rose earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University and is also a certified birth and postpartum doula.