My mission is to share a vitally important scientific discovery with you to empower you as you encounter the critical challenges of your life. That mission has led to my developing a program of educational seminars which can easily be tailored to the specific needs and interests of your group. Typically, I give presentations lasting one, two, or three hours. These durations are ideal for a single class conveying a general overview of the psychospiritual field (e.g. as a guest lecturer or speaker) or for a more in-depth discussion (e.g. a keynote address or an in-service training).

The focus of each seminar can also be modified to fit the specific interests of a given audience. Generally, my seminars cover the following five themes, with the depth of coverage adjusted for the duration of the presentation and the interests of the audience.

Theme 1

The dramatic increase in suicide, addiction, depression, and anxiety in American society is discussed as a reflection of what Viktor Frankl described as an “existential vacuum” associated with a relative absence of meaning and purpose. As the traditional social supports of organized religion and patriotism wane, and as our universities teach a nihilistic belief that life is random and meaningless, our younger adults are left with an inner void and a sense of growing despair. Hence, a recent survey suggested that some 47% of adults 18 to 37 years of age felt they were so stressed most days they couldn’t function and 50% reported having a mental health diagnosis.

Theme 2

The empirical evidence over the past fifty years of research has overwhelmingly demonstrated how spirituality is associated with longevity and emotional well-being, and this research is presented in some detail. Several studies have reported an approximate 25% reduction in all-cause mortality associated with regular religious service attendance. At the same time, numerous studies have demonstrated that spirituality buffers against depression, suicide, addiction, and anxiety.

Theme 3

The integrative biopsychosocial-spiritual model of personality and psychopathology is presented as a way of understanding spirituality as a vitally important dimension of human functioning not better accounted for by biological, psychological, or social processes. In this sense, spirituality is discussed as a genetically-influenced human capacity, associated with neurological substrate in the brain, which helps us function more effectively in facing life’s challenges.

Theme 4

Our spiritual core – our spiritual identity, meaning, and life purpose – enables us to adaptively experience failure, loss, illness, despair, and even the prospect of our own mortality with dignity and grace as we pursue our life goals. Our spiritual worldview is discussed as engendering powerful motivation to transcend pain and suffering for the sake of a purpose or meaning beyond ourselves, perhaps our children, our social justice commitments, or our growth toward God. This spiritual model of transformational change is applied to the issues of depression, anxiety, suicide, and addiction.

Theme 5

Research and theory have suggested four steps we can all take to nurture and develop our spiritual core in order to enhance our motivation and strength in facing life challenges. These steps are discussed with the caveat that they don’t require we adopt any particular set of religious beliefs. Rather, they require that we take an active role in crystallizing our spiritual identity and in understanding how that identity impacts, and is impacted by, our interactions with the universe and with each other.