Spiritual Therapy to Improve the Spiritual Well-Being of Iranian Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Table 1

Spiritual therapy intervention.

Sessions	Main theme	Definition
Session 1	Introduction	Defining the course and introduction. In this session, the participants discussed the possibility of finding or creating meaning out of their experience of cancer. We asked patients to recognize the inner conflict and punishing feelings they have towards themselves and to facilitate a more positive meanings of their cancer experience
Session 2	Relaxation and meditation	Teaching relaxation and meditation by a qualified mentor. All sessions included instruction and active meditation practice. The patients were encouraged to practice this technique individually at home twice a day and given a video-compact disk for guidance
Session 3	Control	This session focused on two aspects of control: things under personal control and things beyond the personal control. We assisted participants to differentiate between these two and write their concerns in two different circles. By focusing on the circle labeled “under God’s control,” participants were asked to concentrate on the visualized God’s presence around them as a white light and put uncontrolled concerns and problems under God’s control. For things under their personal control, we invited participants to use a collaborative approach and view God as a supportive, kind, and helpful partner toward conflict resolution
Session 4	Identity	In this session participants were encouraged to express their grief associated with their disease. We asked them to explore the negative and positive feelings and affirm their strengths and positive attributes inside themselves connecting with them to fight against cancer. Imagining God’s presence as a witness to their loss and pain helped participants feel that their losses are acknowledged and guided them to accept and affirm the individual’s self-worth
Session 5	Relationships	The focus of this session was on three types of relationships: relationships with oneself, with others, and with God. Listening to one’s feelings, positive self-talk, and self-care helped patients to facilitate the relationship with oneself. To resolve any negative feeling about relationship with others, a version of the ‘‘two chair’’ technique—employed by Gestalt psychologists—was used [42]. Participants were encouraged to concentrate on their relationship with God and any emotion such as guilt, anger, or neglect that they may feel toward God. Then, patients led through ‘‘Circle of Light’’ guided imagery and talked to God closely
Session 6	Prayer therapy	Encouraging the participants to pray and talk to God closely based on their religious and spiritual believes and ask Him to help them in this process