Professional Track “CAST”

Introducing CAST

Clinical Applications for Spherology Training

This section is for Licensed Psychotherapists who wish to apply for professional supervision in Spherology under the direction of Karen Hannah, MS, LPC.

Spherology offers you the opportunity for supervision as you integrate this model into your clinical practice. Applications are reviewed on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, with selections shared by Email on Fridays of the same week. The application includes a space to indicate your preference for individual or group supervision.

Meetings can be scheduled in person for those residing in Atlanta and the surrounding areas, or via Zoom for those unable to attend in person. Groups consist of three to five participants to ensure ample time for sharing and processing cases. You are also welcome to share examples of how Spherology is impacting you personally. Groups will be scheduled for 90 mins to 2 hr. in length, depending upon the number of members. Days and times are arranged to accommodate participants’ schedules. Individual meetings are 75 mins with flexible days/times.

While discussions will center around the topics each participant brings to the meeting, additional content for exploration will follow. This includes a paper on Spherology and the DSM and a Documentation Template for Spherology-based progress notes.

Joining Spherology supervision presents a unique opportunity to advance the recognition of Spherology as an evidence-based model with SAMHSA designation. By participating in this supervision, you will not only enhance your clinical practice but also contribute to the broader validation of this innovative approach. Additionally, practitioners who complete six months of supervision will be featured in our website directory as accredited Spherology Practitioners, demonstrating your commitment to professional growth and excellence in the field.

Fees:

Individual Supervision

• Fee: $180 per meeting (75 minutes each)
• Package: $900 for a 6-meeting package (to be completed within 3 months)

Group Supervision

Option 1: Small Group (2-3 participants)

• Fee: $275 per month
• Duration: 6 meetings total (90 minutes each)
• Registration: 3-month commitment

Option 2: Larger Group (4-5 participants)

• Fee: $225 per month
• Duration: 6 meetings total (2 hours each)
• Registration: 3-month commitment

Spherology and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Imbalances of the Sphere correspond with conditions that have been well-researched and included in the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The most current edition of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the DSM-5-TR, the fifth edition, text revision. It was released by the American Psychiatric Association in March 2022. This version includes updates to the text, diagnostic criteria, and references from the previous DSM-5, published in 2013.

The primary benefit of the DSM is to streamline communication between professionals regarding a patient’s difficulties. The manual does not suggest the etiology of the disorders it defines, nor does it recommend any particular treatment. However, it does assist professionals with ruling out factors such as substances, and medical conditions, which may cause symptoms resembling those that are characteristic of a psychiatric disorder.

The manual was not intended for use amongst laypersons, although many people have gained access to these classifications and, without professional expertise, assigned labels to themselves and others. This public misuse has contributed to the medicalizing of psychiatric problems.  A layperson who endorses a set of symptoms or assigns such to another person will then believe that they “have” said disorder, implying a static quality. Spherology, on the other hand, teaches that specific psychological, emotional, and behavioral manifestations are indications of particular imbalances, and these imbalances can be regulated and managed, rather than remaining fixed psychiatric conditions.

In Spherology, the three aspects of the Sphere are categorized by the functions that are most dominant. The most dominant function in the aspect of Self is psychological, which refers to thought patterns. In the aspect of Others, emotion is most dominant. Behavior, or activity, is the most dominant function in the aspect of Work. Therefore, thought disorders, as classified in the DSM, may manifest when an individual is particularly fixated in the aspect of Self and affective disorders may emerge when an individual becomes fixated in Others. With fixation in the aspect of Work, compulsive disorders are common.

Classifications of personality disorders in the DSM are also closely aligned with Spherology imbalances. Broadly speaking, Cluster A personality disorders are associated with the aspect of Self, Cluster B – with Others, and Cluster C – with Work. The chart “Spherology and the DSM,” outlines the associations that have been proposed by Spherology’s founder, Karen Hannah. This chart is available for practitioners enrolled in the CAST program.

It is interesting to note that Spherology categorizes Narcissistic Personality Disorder as an imbalance in the aspect of Others, rather than Self. A common misassumption about narcissism is that sufferers “only care about themselves.” Upon closer examination in clinical settings, it becomes evident that these narcissistic behaviors and their underlying fears indicate a glaring inability to self-gratify, resulting in a compulsive craving for the admiration of others. Therefore, the incessant effort to elevate oneself in the eyes of others is not based upon thinking so highly of oneself, but stems from a vastly lacking connection with Self, for which the attention of others is substituted.

Another surprising categorization by Spherology is the inclusion of Dependent Personality Disorder with the aspect of Work. Logically, it seems that dependency traits would signify an imbalance in the aspect of Others. However, the fundamental basis for the type of dependency defined by DSM criteria is more accurately related to a sense of incompetence in regard to supporting oneself and making decisions that are critical to one’s survival. Dependency for the purpose of survival is different from dependency that is elicited by an intense desire to be emotionally close to others, as is the case with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Learning how DSM classifications and Spherology imbalances interconnect is useful in the clinical practice of a Spherologist. Since the majority of clients who visit a psychotherapist have already been identified with a psychiatric disorder either through medical channels, personal research, or feedback from family or peers, this information can be translated quickly to the Spherology model. Once translated, the Spherologist is able to assist the client in developing the adjoining aspects that had been neglected by the client due to their preoccupation with one aspect.

For example, a client who has grown consumed with elaborate ideas to the extent of severe social withdrawal, and a desire to engage only in activities that serve to prove or reaffirm these ideas, will benefit from Spherology guidance to increase experiences in the aspects of Others, and Work, thereby diminishing the focus on Self. Encouraging the client to remain fixated within the aspect of Self will only exacerbate the state of mind that potentially could be diagnosed as a formal thought disorder by DSM criteria. This guidance to develop alternate aspects, aside from the client’s preferred aspect, is offered in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational manner.

It is ideal when the client understands and subscribes to the Spherology model, which allows the therapist and client to participate openly and collaboratively in establishing consistent balance of the Sphere. However, clients can still benefit from the various components of Spherology when introduced at relevant times during the psychotherapy process.

During your enrollment in the Professional Track, you are invited to compare and contrast DSM criteria with categories identified in the Spherology model. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss commonalities and differences between Spherology and other theories.

Spherology’s SOWL Notes

Documenting client progress may have proven to be a time-consuming and challenging part of your professional work. For those in private practice or employed in agencies without rigid documentation guidelines, Spherology offers a streamlined and highly relevant format.

Spherology’s founder explains how this structure removes the taxing nature of shifting one’s mindset away from Spherology-based clinical observations to accommodate a different clinical perspective when composing notes. SOWL notes were adopted for use in 2016, replacing a narrative note-taking format.

SOWL notes are designed to reinforce the integration of Spherology’s principles into your practice. The format encourages clinicians to consistently recognize all aspects of a client’s life—personal, social, occupational, and health-related—while applying the theory in sessions. This way, your notes will reflect the therapeutic focus of promoting balance within the client’s “Sphere.”

Spherology’s SOWL Framework

As you have learned in the previous courses, Spherology assists clients in developing awareness and balancing the primary aspects of their Sphere. Below is an outline of the four categories included in SOWL notes, providing a holistic view of the client’s functioning.

• S (Self): The internal, subjective experience of the client, reflecting their personal thoughts, outlook, and self-perception.
• O (Others): Interpersonal relationships and the client’s interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and others in their social world.
• W (Work): The client’s professional and occupational roles, including career development, avocational interests such as hobbies, housekeeping, and maintenance
• L (Lifestyle): Health-related issues such as medical concerns, exercise habits, nutrition, substance use, and general well-being. This may also include information related to any spiritual practices or religious affiliations.

This SOWL structure provides a straightforward format that is linked to the ongoing exploration of these aspects during therapy sessions. Information included in SOAP notes (but not noted in SOWL), such as diagnosis, is generally found elsewhere in the client’s chart and imported into each progress note.

Comparison to SOAP Notes:

Spherology’s SOWL format was inspired by the widely used SOAP note structure, which was developed by Dr. Lawrence Weed in the 1960s. Below is an outline of its four components.

• S (Subjective): The client’s personal account of their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
• O (Objective): Observable and measurable data, such as clinical observations or test results.
• A (Assessment): The clinician’s evaluation or diagnosis based on the subjective and objective data.
• P (Plan): The treatment plan or course of action moving forward.

SOAP notes have achieved universal application in both medical and mental health settings because of their structure, simplicity, and adaptability across various theoretical models. While not as specific to Spherology as SOWL notes, if SOAP notes are the preferred method of your organization, their adaptability allows you to tailor them to the needs of your practice and incorporate the Spherology perspective.

Through enrollment in the Professional Track, you may explore documentation strategies to help organize information from sessions effectively. However, the primary focus of CAST is clinical support, rather than giving abundant attention to policy or paperwork. Resources available through your employer and/or professional organizations are better equipped to guide you in complying with their specific documentation standards.