My Philosophy on Spirituality, Faith, and God

Published On: April 6, 2026Categories: About Me, Healing, Spirituality, Therapy Process

One of the topics that feels deeply important to me—both personally and professionally—is spirituality, faith, and the idea of God or a higher power.

I want to begin by saying this clearly: this is not about promoting any one religion or suggesting that you need to be religious. That is not my intention. My work as a trauma therapist and my own personal experience have shown me that spirituality is not about rules, but about connection—connection to something greater, and ultimately, connection to yourself.

What I’ve observed, both in my own life and in the therapy room, is that there is often a meaningful internal shift that happens when we develop a capacity for faith.

What Does Faith Mean?

To me, faith is a belief in something greater than ourselves.

That “something” can look very different for each person:

  • Religion
  • Spirituality
  • Science
  • Nature
  • A Higher Power of your choice

Faith is not about certainty, an easy life, or lack of challenges. It is about trust.

It is the ability to trust yourself, trust life, and trust that—even when things feel uncertain—there may be a larger process unfolding. And I want to acknowledge: that can be incredibly difficult, especially in today’s world.

But when we begin to open ourselves to that possibility, something softens.

Faith and Letting Go of Control

One of the biggest shifts I see in individual therapy—such as when working with anxiety—is the movement from control to trust.

Many people spend so much time worrying about:

  • Future scenarios that may never happen
  • Circumstances outside of their control
  • “What ifs” that keep them stuck in fear

This is where faith becomes powerful.

When we begin to trust a higher power, or even just the unfolding of life, we no longer feel responsible for controlling everything. Instead, we can focus on what is actually within our control.

This shift is often supported through practices like:

  • Mindfulness
  • Somatic trauma therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, such as radical acceptance

These approaches, often used in trauma-informed care, help bring us back into the present moment—where life is actually happening (and help us to not relive our trauma states, past, or memories).

Spirituality Over Religion

Part of my own journey has led me toward spirituality rather than a specific religion.

Why?

Because I don’t believe that any one religion is inherently better than another.

There are hundreds of belief systems across the world (there are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide). To say that only one is “right” would mean that the vast majority of people are somehow wrong—and that simply doesn’t align with my understanding of humanity.

Spirituality, on the other hand, allows for diversity.
It honors different values, beliefs, and lived experiences.

It does not:

  • Shame
  • Blame
  • Guilt
  • Or control

And unfortunately, I have seen how rigid or controlling systems can contribute to religious trauma, which often overlaps with experiences of emotional abuse or even narcissistic abuse in certain environments.

Healing from that kind of trauma is something we often work through in trauma therapy, including modalities like EMDR therapy, which can help reprocess painful experiences and restore a sense of safety.

Choosing Your Own Higher Power

One of the most empowering aspects of spirituality is this:

You get to choose what you believe in.

Your higher power does not have to look like anyone else’s.

It could be:

  • Nature or the outdoors
  • Science and the laws of the universe
  • A personal image of God (female, non-binary, symbolic, or abstract)
  • A sense of interconnectedness
  • A value-based community

For some, “God” might even mean something like “the Great OutDoors” or simply a deep connection to life itself.

The goal is not to get it “right.”
The goal is to find what brings you meaning and harmony.

Spirituality in Healing

Spirituality plays a powerful role in healing—especially in trauma work.

In modalities like EMDR therapy, somatic trauma therapy, and even in relationship therapy, we often see that healing is not just about processing the past, but also about creating a sense of safety, trust, and connection in the present.

Spirituality can support that by offering:

  • A sense of grounding
  • A place to turn during distress
  • A reminder that you are not alone

This is also why spirituality is such an important component in many recovery communities, like 12-step programs. These spaces encourage individuals to define a higher power in their own way—without forcing a specific belief system.

What I’ve Observed

Across all the different belief systems I’ve encountered, one thing stands out:

The form of belief doesn’t matter as much as the feeling it creates.

Whether someone believes in:

  • A traditional God
  • A feminine or non-binary deity
  • Nature
  • Science

The outcome is often the same:

  • More peace
  • Less need to control
  • Greater emotional regulation
  • A deeper sense of ease

A Final Reflection

This is simply my philosophy. You are welcome to take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

What matters most is that you have the freedom to choose your own beliefs.

And I gently encourage you to reflect on this:

  • What spiritual or faith-based practices bring you a sense of peace?
  • What creates tension, fear, or internal conflict?

Move toward what brings you harmony.
Move away from what creates discord.

Because ultimately, whether through trauma therapy or other kinds of self-work, the goal is the same:

To help you feel more grounded, more connected, and more at peace within yourself.

If you’d like support exploring your healing journey, I offer trauma-informed care through online sessions and in-person sessions.

— Valeriya Bauer, Psychotherapist ✨