The Importance Of Spirituality As A Guiding Force To Recovery?

Religion and spirituality are often entrenched within the issues that clients convey in the counseling office; regrettably, the ethical principles of the vocation have yet to attend to unambiguous concerns that materialize as counselors make the endeavor to augment understanding and responsiveness to religious and spiritual issues in their work. The need for counselors to respect clients’ decorum, to promote positive development and maturity, to respect multiplicity in terms of religion and to attempt to comprehend the diverse cultural backgrounds of clients is addressed in the code of ethics. These responsibilities propose that counselors must regard religious and spiritual aspects of client’s welfare and may observe them as assets for endorsing remedial change. The DSM- IV added “religious or spiritual problems” to its inventory of issues a client may perhaps convey in counseling, generating a need for counselors to have the required abilities to deal with clients suffering from religious or spiritual issues. Religion and spirituality debatably stand out as cultural and indiv... ... middle of paper ... ...heme.

A retrospective case control study of alcohol relapse and spiritual growth. The American Journal of Addictions, 16, 56-61. Weiss, K. R., & Sias, S. M. (2011, October). As integrative spiritual development model of supervision for substance abuse counselors-in-training. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 32, 84-96.

(Butler & Kemp, 2014). Addiction and Recovery In conclusion, the problem of addiction may seem impossible to overcome at first, however; there are steps that can be taken in order to obtain recovery. First, the individual who is the addict must admit that there is a problem in order to begin the recovery process and weaken the hold of drug addiction. Next, the individual must be willing to seek professional help with an open and honest mind. They must be willing to let go of all negative influences including family, and friends.

To best serve our clients we have to show spiritual empathy. Spiritual methods of therapy are controversial among workers in the health field including social workers. Many are not comfortable using spiritual interventions. Being spiritually empathetic can help the social worker notice signs of spiritual need. I believe that spiritual empathy is crucial in order to help the client’s needs.

The reader learns about the struggle with sin and how the conflict creates awareness to addictive behavior. While the book offers some great understanding regarding addictions and spirituality, it is also based on a reflection of May’s own personal view and experience with addictions. Definition of Addiction There are many different definitions in which people provide regarding addiction. May (1988) describes that addiction “is a state of compulsion, obsession, or preoccupation that enslaves a person’s will and desire” (p. 14). Individuals who suffer from addiction provide their time and energy toward other things that are not healthy and safe.

(2011). The lived experience of spiritual abuse. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(9), 899-915. doi:10.1080/13674676.2010.536206 Woody, W. D. (2009). Use of cult in the teaching of psychology of religion and spirituality. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 1(4), 218-232. doi:10.1037/a0016730 Young, J. L., & Griffith, E. E. (1992).

Furthermore, a respect for diversity is a concern that this guideline is addressing. It is very important that counselors not discriminate based on race, culture, sexual orien... ... middle of paper ... ...s affect the client’s daily life. This will help the counselor properly diagnose and treat the client. However, it is still important for the counselor to be aware of his or her own religious/spiritual values because self-disclosure may be of some importance to client in therapy. In addition, there are criticisms of this approach that include unconditional acceptance of client’s viewpoint that might blur the lines between mental illness and religious belief.

However, “In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. In fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so” (“Understanding drug,” 2012). Drug and substance addiction is difficult to overcome, but one’s faith in God can play a significant role in the recovery process through a restored relationship with God, discovering one’s purpose in life, and being surrounded by a community of support. When people with strong religious beliefs struggle with drug and substance addiction they face not only the struggles placed on them by society but also with conflicts within their faith. However, Christian faith-based addiction recovery programs also welcome people who do not identify as spiritual or religious with the option of pursuing spiritual support (“The Philosophy,” 2015).

Supporting is listening and empathizing with the ex-member with out the offering of unsolicited options. Simply being there is one of the best ways anyone can help. The hunger for spiritual guidance and religious truth is usually what drives people into exploring many of the different existing religions all over North America and in other parts of the world. Many problems tend to arise when the leaders of these cultic groups proclaim themselves to be living embodiments of this truth. The many great dangers of cults lie in the leap one must take from embracing religious truth, to worshipping a person claiming to be this so called “truth”.

Journal of Holistic Nursing, 35(2), 175-184. Draper P. (2012) Journal of Nursing Management20, 970–980 An integrative review of spiritual assessment: implications for nursing management LaRocca-Pitts, M. (2015). Four FACTs Spiritual Assessment Tool. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 21(2), 51-59. doi:10.1080/08854726.2015.1015303 Leeuwen, R. V., Schep-Akkerman, A., & Laarhoven, H. W. (2013). Screening Patient Spirituality and Spiritual Needs in Oncology Nursing.