WORKING SPIRITUALITY WITH RESISTANT CLIENTS

Transcription

1 WORKING SPIRITUALITY WITH RESISTANT CLIENTS Justin Womer, ASW #62322, MSW, CATC IV # Kelly Seiker, LMFT #97551

2 DECLARATION Mr. Womer and Ms. Seiker report no conflict of interests in the presentation of this material.

3 NOTIFICATION TO PUBLIC We should like to notify the public that the subject of Spirituality is of an intensive, personal and controversial nature. Nothing would please both of us more than to give useful advice with which no one finds exception. The material presented in no way reflects the opinion of our Employing Agency and is the culmination of nearly two decades working with co-occurring and recovering individuals.

4 The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Dan had no way of knowing that Foua and Nao Kao had already diagnosed their daughter's problem as the illness where the spirit catches you and you fall down. Foua and Nao Kao had no way of knowing that Dan had diagnosed it as epilepsy, the most common of all neurological disorders. Each had accurately noted the same symptoms, but Dan would have been surprised to hear that they were caused by soul loss, and Lia's parents would have been surprised to hear that they were caused by an electrochemical storm inside their daughter's head that had been stirred up by the misfiring of aberrant brain cells. Anne Fadiman, p. 28

5 STAYING OPEN TO SPIRITUALITY Contributing aspects: Culture Experiences Education Family of Origin Subjective Understanding Observation & World View Significance & Interpretation (Meaning)

6 Why would it become a matter of Counseling or Therapy? Clients become stuck in the interpretation or meaning of events in their lives.

7 Counseling Considerations Personal feelings & prejudices (Transference, Countertransference) (Mindfulness) (Non-judgmental) ( Unconditional Positive Regard ) Is the intention of the intervention to uphold the very highest ideals of self-determination, dignity, autonomy?

8 History of Alcoholics Anonymous

9 Vital spiritual experiences. ROWLAND HOWARD AND DR. JUNG

10 The Oxford Group 6 Steps 1. Admitted hopeless 2. Got Honest with self 3. Got honest with another 4. Made Amends 5. Helped other without demand 6. Prayed to God as you understand Him

11 The White Light Experience

12 Why is it so hard for Alcoholics & Addicts? Philosophy s Existential Angst Higher Power and trauma/trauma Addict/Alcoholic Lifestyle/friends/environment Self-Pity of the Alcoholic/Addict Depressed person drinking a depressant to get over depression

13 Outcomes that can be difficult to Work with in a 12 Step Spiritual Context Atheist (No rational proof of God s existence) Agnostic (Perhaps, perhaps not) Intransigent (Definitely, but as I see/observe it)

14 The Litmus Test: Assessment How s that working for you? (Dr. Phil) Discover, Uncover & Discard Strength or Liability

15 Why 12 Step? Best for Most Readily Available (Location/Timing) Numbers/Built Social Network Low to No Cost REFERRAL(S) Secular Recovery/Rational Recovery

16 POSSIBLE CON S Lay people s Opinions Spirituality Medications Judgment Co-Occurring Polysubstance Dependent Forcing Square Peg in a Round Hole

17 Agnostic/Atheist Interventions Wonder of the Universe Intervention Before the Big Bang? Too much Gravity in the Big Bang Black Holes Too little Gravity in the Big Bang No Universe The Wonder of Life Green zones, Evolution, The development of the Blue Planet Scientific odds of YOU existing approximately 1:400,000,000,000,000 (Trillion) Appreciation of Aesthetics: Nature, Music, Art, Logic

18 Wonder of the Universe II A.A. When anyone, anywhere reaches out for the Hand of A.A. (Practical Humanism) Defend Client s right to self-determination, autonomy, logic, belief (No one chase you out). Higher Power Good Orderly Direction (G.O.D.) Higher Power Group of Drunks /Power of Group

19 Wonder of the Universe III Why can t Science be Higher Power? German Theologian: God might be a Mathematical Equation Prayer Any Conscious Thought Steps Power Greater than Ourselves Life is Full of them Higher Power As We Understand Him

20 SUGGESTED PRACTICAL INTERVENTIONS / ACTION HEALTHY 12 STEP THINKING I may not agree with a word you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it (Evelyn Beatrice Hall) Journaling...Star-gazing...Scientific Journals CBT...Stoicism...Neil degrasse Tyson Writings

21 ULTIMATE RATIONALE FOR INTERVENTION Work towards creating a link between Rational Thought (Left side) to Intuitive Thought (Right side)

22 COUNSELOR AWARENESS One of the Core Competencies of a Counselor is REFERRAL For Counselors, though they themselves may be in recovery, recognizing 12 Step Recovery may NOT be working for their Client (even though they credit it with saving their lives ) is the appropriate life-saving intervention in many cases. Abandoning They weren t ready thinking or personal, intense feelings about the matter.

23 POSSIBLE INTERVENTION As a focal point, many people in Recovery find the Spirituality of 1 st Peoples extremely helpful. Almost No shoulds, musts, or tenants of faith

24 INTRANSIGENT CLIENTS My Spiritual Worldview is the ONLY true Spiritual Worldview Assurance, Identity, Acceptance by Peer Group Can alleviate fear, need to look at personal identity

25 INTRANSIGENT II Frequently see world as a battleground between Believers and Heretics or Heathen Goal is to create disparity between obedience/dogma and the ascription of love Can be difficult to work with as they may use the sacred authority of a text or even the 12 step literature to justify

26 INTRANSIGENT III We all carry a piece of the puzzle to God (stained glass window piece) and when we all present our piece, the image comes into focus -Philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Liebniz Bill W. A.A. is a Spiritual Kindergarten

27 INTRANSIGENT IV Live and let Live Educate as to difference between Religion and Spirituality, tolerance and self-discovery, concept that all are Children of God (though they may express it differently)

28 INTRANSIGENT V REFERRAL may include seeking consultation with a Religious or Spiritual Leader or Elder A Faith-Based Group (Celebrate Recovery / Alcoholics Victorious)

29 INTRANSIGENT VI How s that working for you? (Dr. Phil Again) Motivational Interviewing Parroting versus Spiritual Experience Intent versus Action

30 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS?