True Emotional Healing through Spiritual Therapy

Holistic Practitioner Spotlight with Cindy Barg, a Spiritual Psychotherapist and Motivational Speaker on Dealing with Grief, Loss and Hope

We are speaking with Cindy Barg, M.Ed, LMHC, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, retreat leader, licensed psychotherapist, and published author who uses spiritual therapy to guide her clients through their grief, loss and the healing process.

Tell Us a Story About  a Client Who Experienced Great Loss and How Spiritual Therapy Helped

Katie was a 10 year old girl who was dying of leukemia. Every week for three months I would visit Katie at the Hospice she was in. Her parents were devoted to her dying peacefully and with dignity, yet, they were terribly distraught and struggled with reconciling that Katie, their only child would die.

The last week I was at the Hospice, Katie’s mother had been with her for hours. Though Katie appeared not to be suffering she had accepted her death and was in waiting. Several hours later, her father opened the door to the room she was in. Before he could enter, the child looked at her father and stated, “Daddy, there is no more space in the room for you. All the Angels are here. ” Three minutes later Katie passed away.

For months thereafter, I had worked with the parents to help them with the loss of Katie. They were confronted with a myriad of opportunities in their journey with Katie that provoked emotions of fear and love. They joined support groups, went see other clinicians without a spiritual perspective and found that many of the people would only focus on how their child died as opposed to being able to forge forward-dismissing hope as an option that our loved ones who have passed on are very near to us.

In the face of their sorrow, anguish and loss, they ultimately chose to love. The parents accepted they were never alone. The soul energy of Katie is what embodied them to understand that it is that energy of love that still connected them to their beloved daughter. Their spiritual insight brought them to a peace where their hearts remained open and where they could move forward without fear.

How did you arrive at your course of treatment?

Death is a transition and more importantly, paying close attention to living is crucial. Life is how we consider it to be and that can be imperative or stagnant to our spiritual advancement. And while spiritual wisdom about an afterlife will not eradicate our sorrow, it can reshape our mourning experience from one of heavyheartedness to one of promise and peace.

My practice of spiritual therapy connects individuals with something larger, such as the universe itself. It affords a deeper transcendent meaning that goes beyond humankind. It is with great humility that I attempt to help others grasp and gather the threads of their lives with a dignified hope after loss. I do this with narrative storytelling, eclectic therapy, holistic, mindfulness-based and trauma-based therapies.

Why and When Did You Choose the Holistic Path?

When I was 13 years of age, I was in a tragic car accident, landing me in a hospital for 3 months. I had a near death experience and was lifted out of my body into the spiritual realm with my father. My whole family was involved, and my father and our family dog were killed. When I came back to life, I was told I would never walk again or be able to have children. Three and half months later I walked out of that hospital and years later I gave birth to two incredible girls, now young women.

In my high school years, I was selected as an American Field Service Exchange Student to India where I studied and prayed with monks at an ashram. Years later my older brother was brutally murdered. The events in my life have brought me to where I am today and the path of spiritual therapy I continue to embrace.

What Lessons Have Your Work and Personal Experiences Taught You?

Despite the agonizing and wretched suffering that comes from insurmountable loss, there is simply no way to get around it. Every scar, every wound, every thread of my once bruised core could not soften unless I invited my heart to remain open. The most catastrophic moments summoned me to acknowledge my innermost vulnerabilities. It is the nakedness of my being that ultimately brought me to the truth of my presence, no matter how incomprehensible the struggle.

The most innate instinct I have is to love. And throughout all my losses, I have come to understand that struggle is necessitated into the plight of all our lives. Struggle has transported my anguish into compassion and even more love. There are tremendous gifts in the struggle. And what we cannot feel we simply cannot heal.

Biography

Cindy Barg is a dynamic and internationally acclaimed public speaker, retreat leader, licensed psychotherapist and published author on loss, happiness & hope.

In 1971, Cindy was told she would never be able to walk again or to be able to have children after a devastating car accident that killed her father and her family dog. In 1995, Cindy’s brother was viciously murdered, one of the worst atrocities to have ever taken place in the state of Massachusetts.

Through her grief and healing, Cindy has experienced extraordinary conversations and signs from the other side, confirming that those who have passed are still with us. Cindy shares these experiences with local and international audiences in the hope that her journey will provide hope and inspiration to others moving through the grieving process.

Cindy has spoken all around the world, including Malaysia, China, India, Canada and the US. She has an extraordinary ability to help others grasp and gather the threads of their lives with a dignified hope. Abounding with humor, compassion & warmth, Cindy imparts that underestimating hope and happiness is not an option, even after loss. Her book, But the Heavens Never Cried can be purchased online or viewed at cindybarg.com

Cindy Barg, M.Ed, LMHC
Motivational Speaker & Spiritual Licensed Psychotherapist
Sacred Space Inc.
Sandwich, MA    USA

Visit Cindy’s Website

View other holistic practitioners like Cindy in our Holistic Health Directory