Spirituotherapy Part 3: Understanding the Wheel Diagram and Our Journey to Wholeness in Christ
Welcome to the third post in our four-part series on Spirituotherapy, a powerful, Christ-centered approach to biblical counseling. If you’re following along, I encourage you to start with Parts 1 and 2 before continuing. In this post, we’ll explore a foundational tool in Spirituotherapy: the Wheel Diagram. This model, developed by Dr. Charles Solomon, illustrates the makeup of our spirit, soul, and body, helping clients better understand the inner dynamics of their struggles and God’s answer in Christ.
The Wheel Diagram: A View of Spirit, Soul, and Body
In Spirituotherapy, the Wheel Diagram is a visual guide to the trichotomous nature of humanity, showing that each person is made up of spirit, soul, and body. This holistic view, which echoes 1 Thessalonians 5:23, helps clients recognize not only where their struggles lie but also where Christ offers His life-giving presence.
The Spirit: Where Christ Dwells Within Us
The first part of the Wheel Diagram addresses the client’s spirit, the deepest part of our being where the Spirit of Christ dwells. For the believing client, Spirituotherapy begins with the reassuring truth that, as a follower of Jesus, Christ lives within them. They are reminded of their secure salvation, full assurance in Christ, and their complete acceptance by Him. Through their saving relationship with Jesus, they can rest in the certainty that nothing can separate them from His love.
At this stage, clients are gently encouraged to examine their relationship with Christ more deeply. Have they fully surrendered control of their life to Him? If this has not yet happened, they are invited to consider whether they are ready to take this step. Spirituotherapy is a journey of transformation that begins with the willingness to let go of the “self” and trust Christ fully, allowing Him to be the true center of their life.
The Soul: Understanding Our Inner Battles
The next section of the Wheel Diagram focuses on the soul, which encompasses our personality, emotions, and thoughts. Here, Spirituotherapy helps clients recognize the powerful impact of unresolved inner struggles. Feelings of inferiority, insecurity, inadequacy, guilt, worry, doubt, and fear often weigh heavily on the soul, influencing the way they relate to the world and to others. These struggles are not uncommon and, when recognized, can open the door to healing as Christ’s light shines on them.
Dr. Solomon emphasizes that the pressures and stressors of daily life—whether from family, work, or other areas—tend to amplify these feelings, leading to frustration. Our self-centered, “fleshly” responses to these frustrations often take one of three forms:
Hostility: Some people respond to life’s frustrations with outward hostility, which may impact their relationships and well-being.
Mental Disturbances: Others turn inward, wrestling with obsessive thoughts, fantasy, paranoia, or even psychosis as their mind attempts to cope with unresolved pain.
Emotional Turmoil: Finally, some experience intense anxiety, depression, or other emotional struggles as their soul reacts to life’s difficulties.
In Spirituotherapy, clients are led to see these responses as symptoms of a deeper need for Christ’s healing presence in the soul. By recognizing these patterns, clients can begin to understand the roots of their struggles and seek the Spirit’s renewing work in these areas.
The Body: Where Our Inner Struggles Show Physically
Lastly, the Wheel Diagram helps clients see how inner struggles affect their physical body. Spirituotherapy emphasizes that the self-directed, troubled soul often manifests physically, leading to issues like tension headaches, migraines, skin conditions, asthma, fatigue, insomnia, and other ailments. These physical symptoms are sometimes the body’s response to the emotional and spiritual tension we carry within.
By understanding these connections, clients can begin to see how their mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles are interconnected. With Christ at the center, Spirituotherapy offers a path to address each part of the wheel—spirit, soul, and body—through the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing peace and healing.
Moving Forward: Embracing Our True Identity in Christ
In our next post, we’ll explore another key tool in Spirituotherapy, known as the Line Diagram. This model guides the client deeper into the reality of their true identity in Christ, inviting them to step into the freedom of the Exchanged Life, where the “self-life” is surrendered for the “Christ-life.”
As we continue this journey, I pray that each post offers insight into the incredible love and freedom that Christ brings. Through Spirituotherapy, we see how He meets us in our struggles, offering not only understanding but also the life-changing reality of His presence within us.