Strategies for the Competent Integration of Spirituality Into Addictions Counseling Training and Supervision

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Craig S. Cashwell, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Spirituality is widely covered in both the counseling (e.g., Benda & McGovern, 2006; Cashwell & Young, in-press; Morgan, 2007; Sori-Ford, 2008; Young, Wiggins-Frame, & Cashwell, 2007) and addictions counseling literatures (e.g., Cashwell, Clarke, & Graves, 2009; Ciarrocchi & Brelsford, 2009; Cook, 2004; Dyslin, 2008; Juhnke, Watts, Guerra, & Hsieh, 2009; Laudet, Morgen, & White, 2006; Morgan, 2009; Morgan & Jordan, 1999). The inclusion of addictions counseling within the latest standards of the Committee on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP; 2009) presents new challenges and opportunities to improve the profession, especially in the area of spirituality. The CACREP addictions counseling standards highlight the importance of spirituality in two sections. Section C.4. states the need to understand “the role of spirituality in the addiction recovery process” (p. 18) and section G.3. states that an addictions counselor needs to understand “the assessment of biopsychosocial and spiritual history” (p. 22). What does it mean, however, to understand or assess spirituality? Similar to the debate on how to include spirituality into the counselor education curriculum (e.g., Briggs & Rayle, 2005; Curtis & Glass, 2002; Ingersoll,1997; Leseho 2007) there still exists questions on how to effectively integrate spirituality into addictions counselor training (Morgen, 2009). Perhaps it is not a surprise then, given the possibilities and the explosion of knowledge available in this realm, that students and even more experienced counselors are somewhat nervous about how to incorporate spirituality into addictions counseling training and practice, even if they are convinced that it is a good idea.

Additional Information

Publication
American Counseling Association VISTAS Online 2010
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
Spirituality, Counseling, Engagement, Personal beliefs, Client spirituality

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