Adult Treatment Planner
40: Spiritual Confusion
SNOMED Terms
- Alcohol-induced anxiety disorder
- Amphetamine-induced anxiety disorder
- Anxiety disorder
- Atypical depressive disorder
- Bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive
- Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder
- Cannabis-induced anxiety disorder
- Chronic bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive
- Cocaine-induced anxiety disorder
- Depressive disorder
- Dream anxiety disorder
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder in remission
- Hallucinogen-induced anxiety disorder
- Inhalant-induced anxiety disorder
- Mild bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive
- Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder
- Moderate bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive
- Phencyclidine-induced anxiety disorder
- Sedative, hypnotic AND/OR anxiolytic-induced anxiety disorder
- Severe bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive with psychotic features
- Severe bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive without psychotic features
- Severe bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive, in partial remission
- Severe bipolar II disorder, most recent episode major depressive, in remission
- Single major depressive episode, severe, with psychosis
Goals
- Clarify spiritual concepts and instill a freedom to approach a higher power as a resource for support.
- Increase belief in and development of a relationship with a higher power.
- Begin a faith in a higher power and incorporate it into support system.
- Resolve issues that have prevented faith or belief from developing and growing.
Behavioral Definitions
- Verbalization of a desire for a closer relationship to a higher power.
- Feelings and attitudes about a higher power that are characterized by fear, anger, and distrust.
- Verbalization of a feeling of emptiness in his/her life, as if something were missing.
- A negative, bleak outlook on life and regarding others.
- A felt need for a higher power, but because upbringing contained no religious education or training,
does
not know where or how to begin.
- An inability to connect with a higher power, due to anger, hurt, and rejection from religious
upbringing.
- A struggle with understanding and accepting Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Steps Two and Three (i.e.,
difficulty
in believing in a higher power).
Diagnoses
- Dysthymic Disorder
- Depressive Disorder NOS
- Anxiety Disorder NOS
- Major Depressive Disorder
Objectives and Interventions
- Summarize the highlights of own spiritual quest or journey to this date.
- Ask the client to write the story of his/her spiritual quest/journey; process the journey
material.
- Describe beliefs and feelings around the idea of a higher power.
- Assign the client to list all of his/her beliefs related to a higher power; process the beliefs.
- Assist the client in processing and clarifying his/her feelings regarding a higher power.
- Explore the causes for the emotional components (e.g., fear, rejection, peace, acceptance,
abandonment) of the client's reaction to a higher power.
- Describe early life training in spiritual concepts and identify its impact on current religious beliefs.
- Review the client's early life experiences surrounding belief in a higher power.
- Verbalize an increased knowledge and understanding of concept of a higher power.
- Ask the client to talk with a chaplain, pastor, rabbi, or priest regarding the client's
spiritual
struggles, issues, or questions, and record the feedback.
- Assign the client to read God: A Biography (Miles) or The History of God (Armstrong) to build
knowledge and a concept of a higher power.
- Identify specific blocks to believing in a higher power.
- Assist the client in identifying specific issues or blocks that prevent the development of
his/her
spirituality.
- Encourage the client to read books dealing with conversion experiences (e.g., Surprised by Joy
by
Lewis; Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine; The Seven Storey Mountain by Merton; Soul on
Fire
by Cleaver).
- Identify the difference between religion and faith.
- Educate the client on the difference between religion and spirituality.
- Replace the concept of a higher power as harsh and judgmental with a belief in a higher power as
forgiving
and loving.
- Encourage the client to read books dealing with conversion experiences (e.g., Surprised by Joy
by
Lewis; Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine; The Seven Storey Mountain by Merton; Soul on
Fire
by Cleaver).
- Emphasize that the higher power is characterized by love and gracious forgiveness for anyone
with
remorse and who seeks forgiveness.
- Implement daily attempts to be in contact with higher power.
- Recommend that the client implement daily meditations and/or prayer; process the experience.
- Assign the client to write a daily note to his/her higher power.
- Encourage and assist the client in developing and implementing a daily devotional time or other
ritual that will foster his/her spiritual growth.
- Verbalize separation of beliefs and feelings regarding one's earthly father from those regarding a
higher
power.
- Assist the client in comparing his/her beliefs and feelings about his/her earthly father with
those
about a higher power.
- Urge separating the feelings and beliefs regarding the earthly father from those regarding a
higher
power to allow for spiritual growth and maturity.
- Acknowledge the need to separate negative past experiences with religious people from the current
spiritual
evaluation.
- Assist the client in evaluating religious tenets separated from painful emotional experiences
with
religious people in his/her past.
- Explore the religious distortions and judgmentalism that the client has been subjected to by
others.
- Verbalize acceptance of forgiveness from a higher power.
- Ask the client to read the books Serenity (Helmfelt and Fowler) - all readings related to AA
Steps
Two and Three; The Road Less Traveled (Peck); and Search for Serenity (Presnall); process the
concept of forgiveness.
- Explore the client's feelings of shame and guilt that led to him/her feeling unworthy before a
higher power and others.
- Ask a respected person who has apparent spiritual depth to serve as a mentor.
- Help the client find a mentor to guide his/her spiritual development.
- Attend groups dedicated to enriching spirituality.
- Make the client aware of opportunities for spiritual enrichment (e.g., Bible studies, study
groups,
fellowship groups); process the experiences he/she decides to pursue.
- Suggest that the client attend a spiritual retreat (e.g., DeColores or Course in Miracles) and
report to therapist what the experience was like for him/her and what he/she gained from the
experience.
- Read books that focus on furthering a connection with a higher power.
- Ask the client to read books to cultivate his/her spirituality (e.g., Cloistered Walk by Norris;
Hymns to an Unknown God by Keen; The Care of the Soul by Moore).
Index