IJCP Volume 19 • Issue 1 • Spring 2019

Practitioner Perspective

Spirituality in the Recovery Process of

Addiction - Is there an Impact on the
Counsellor?
By Daniel Cleary the client, as well as enhancing the
work and life of the therapist.
If the addiction worker has
the ability to allow an open, non-
judgmental and compassionate
environment when working in
the area of addiction treatment,
spiritual understanding, knowledge
and competence may increase
the ability of the addiction worker
to help the addicted person “to
discover or rediscover their own
purpose and core values, explore
the negative consequences
of the addictive behaviour on
these values, and to develop
behaviours that support the
identified core values” (Treloar,
Dubreuil & Miranda, 2014, p. 38).
These negative consequences
can include burnout, stress,
empathy fatigue, vicarious trauma,

F
sadness, transference and/or
or therapists working in the addiction countertransference. Perhaps
treatment field, the use of spiritual concepts most striking, however, is the
opportunity spirituality presents
in the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction is to the counsellor for personal and
professional growth in their work
viewed by some as the clearest demonstration of the and spiritual life. This article will
value of spirituality and this construct may be seen explore addiction, recovery, the role
of spirituality and addiction recovery
as the central curative factor in recovery and working in addiction recovery.

What is Addiction?
Introduction addiction work. There needs to There has been a great deal of
There may be an impact on be an openness and awareness research into what constitutes
the addiction counsellor when around spirituality, irrespective of addiction, with extensive literature
spirituality is incorporated into the whether the counsellor personally published on the subject and
recovery process (Treloar, Dubreuil believes in spirituality or not. its varied understandings and
& Miranda, 2014; Duchon & When spirituality is part of the descriptions. Although the World
Plowman, 2005) and this poses recovery process, it can enable the Health Organisation’s (1992) ICD-
important implications for training counsellor to deal with and manage 10 Classification of Mental and
and supervision of therapists in an array of issues that arise with Behavioural Disorders outlines

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clinical descriptions and diagnostic
guidelines for addiction, and the f recovery is going to be achieved and maintained, the
American Psychiatric Association person with the addiction must develop the capacity to
lists addiction in its Diagnostic form healthy and emotionally-regulatory relationships
and Statistical Manual of Mental (Roth, 2016)
Disorders V (2013), defining
addiction still proves difficult
because it encompasses numerous term illness, injury, or condition, or via many pathways” (para. 2).
fields, namely medicine, psychology, possible premature death.
science and biology. The role of Spirituality and Religion
Addiction can take many forms. What is Recovery? in Addiction Recovery
Indeed, there is further difficulty in Recovery, like addiction, has People in recovery from alcoholism
defining who can become addicted, proved difficult to define in spite or other addictions through 12-
what an individual can be addicted of extensive research into the step programmes like Alcoholics
to, and what the real health effects process. To date, there is no Anonymous (2013) often hear
of these addictions are. There consensus on a definition, even phrases such as ‘this is a spiritual
is also confusion around the among those in recovery (Laudet, programme’ or ‘you need to
motivation to use or be involved 2007; Laudet, Morgen & White, discover your spirituality or higher
in what an individual might be 2006). A number of researchers power’. Twelve-step programmes
addicted to (Armstrong & Piccard, define recovery in terms of clearly separate themselves from
2015). Further, addiction can be substance use (Cisler, Kowalchuk, religion, yet equally claim to be
viewed as multi-faceted, including Saunders, Zweben & Trinh, 2005), spiritual programmes. Likewise,
both appetitive and compulsive while others refer to recovery some residential programmes
aspects (Chassina, Pressona, as total abstinence from the attach themselves to a particular
Roseb & Shermanc, 2007). substance (Flynn et al., 2003; Scott religion and also state that they
The American Society of Addiction et al., 2005). Either way, recovery offer a clear spiritual programme.
Medicine (ASAM) (2010) states that can be viewed as a complex and Religion is defined as “an
addiction can be described as a dynamic process incorporating all organized system of beliefs
“primary, chronic disease of brain the positive effects and advantages and rituals associated with an
reward, motivation, memory and of the physical, mental and social institutional structure” (Rusinova
related circuitry” (p. 1). Dysfunction health that can happen when & Cash, 2007, p. 252). While it
in brain reward, motivation, memory people with an addiction receive the is difficult to define the term and
and related circuitry leads to help they need (National Council on meaning of spirituality (Egan &
characteristic signs of biological, Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Swedersky, 2003; West, 2000), it
psychological, social and spiritual 2015). is not to be equated to a doctrinal
happenings. This can be seen in an If recovery is going to be achieved or religious faith. According to
individual pathologically pursuing and maintained, the person with the New Hope Recovery Centre
reward and/or relief by substance the addiction must develop the (2014), spirituality does not need
use and/or other behaviours. capacity to form healthy and to be defined through the lens of
Addiction encompasses the emotionally-regulatory relationships religion. “Spirituality is recognizing
inability to consistently abstain from (Roth, 2016). a power greater than ourselves
“impairment in behavioural control The Substance Abuse and Mental which is grounded in love and
and craving, diminished recognition Health Services Administration compassion. It is a power that
of significant problems with one’s (2011) describes recovery as “a gives us perspective, meaning
behaviours and interpersonal process of change through which and a purpose to our lives. It is
relationships, and a dysfunctional individuals improve their health a desire to connect with more
emotional response” (ASAM, 2010, and wellness, live a self-directed than ourselves, to connect with
p. 1). Like other chronic diseases, life, and strive to reach their full everything” (para. 3).
addiction can involve repeated potential” (para. 2). They continue Booth (2012) informs us that
episodes of relapse and remission. that although abstinence remains spirituality is about recognising
Without intervention, treatment or the safest approach for those that people have the power to
some type of recovery, addiction is with substance use disorders, it change what it is in their lives
progressive and can result in long- emphasises that “recovery occurs that brings them pain. Whether it

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IJCP Volume 19 • Issue 1 • Spring 2019

A
reasons; work is good for our health
s therapy is very often not the first port of call and well-being and contributes to
for people seeking help, it can be assumed that our happiness, confidence and
clients have spent some time coping with their self-esteem. It is an integral part of
difficulties in other ways our existence and identity and thus
cannot be easily separated from
the rest of one’s life. According to
is an individual in need of greater that takes place in the context Gini (1998), the business of work is
positivity, or a person whose life of community. Other authors not simply about producing goods,
has been destroyed by addiction, have explored spirituality in the “but also to help produce people”
every one of us has the ability to workplace (Bell & Taylor, 2004; (p. 708). Gini states that people
initiate the healing process. Not Carroll, 2013; Duchon & Plowman, need work and, in turn, develop
surprisingly then, spirituality has 2005; Fry & Kriger, 2009; Lips- their identity and are identified by
become and continues to be an Wiersma & Mills, 2002). These the work they do. He concludes
important topic in today’s world. authors, among others (Ashmos by stating that people need to be
Ciarrochi and Brelsford (2009) & Duchon, 2000; Dehler & Welsh, careful about what they choose
suggest that poor self-control, 2003: Gibbons, 2001: Kinjerski to do for a living; for what we do
crime and substance abuse may & Skrypnek, 2006; Mitroff & is what we will become. Choosing
be the result of a lack of religious Denton, 1999), show spirituality at well generally means deciding
or spiritual belief/connection. work as being comprised of three on a line of work that will lead to
They propose that a person with a components: the inner life, which happiness because happiness
connection to a religious or spiritual refers to human self-concept; leads to and fuels success. When
institution has a higher likelihood meaningful work, which refers to a person is positive, their brain is
of possessing psychological work content; and community, which more motivated, engaged, creative,
maturity and emotional well-being concerns the working context. energetic, resilient and productive
(Zinnbauer, Pargament & Scott, In their study on ‘Nurturing the (Action for Happiness, 2016).
1999, as cited in Ciarrocho & spirit at work: Impact on work What is it that could provide
Brelsford, 2009). unit performance’, Duchon and meaning or purpose or add to a
For therapists working in the Plowman (2005) note that work- person finding meaning or purpose
addiction treatment field, the use of unit leaders likely have an impact in their role as an addiction
spiritual concepts in the treatment on the degree to which work units therapist? Victor Frankl (2006)
of alcohol and drug addiction is acknowledge and encourage issues a psychiatrist and Holocaust
viewed by some as the clearest of spirituality. Workers want to be survivor believes that the search
demonstration of the value of involved in work that gives meaning for meaning is the most important
spirituality and this construct may to their lives (Ashmos & Duchon, aspect of a person’s life; it is
be seen as the central curative 2000). Significantly, work becomes not the destination that matters,
factor in recovery (Borman & more meaningful when there is a rather, it is the journey that is
Dixon 1998; Green, Fullilove & connection between the worker’s important. Highlighting this,
Fullilove 1998; Warfield & Goldstein roles/job and their values. students from the Johns Hopkins
1996). And it appears to be a University in Baltimore, Maryland,
growing phenomenon: “Get used Working in Addiction Recovery US, were asked what they
to it. Spirituality is creeping into Alcohol and drug counsellors considered to be central in their
the offices… And companies are are responsible for providing lives. Some 78 per cent answered
turning inward in search of a ‘soul’ confidential addiction counselling, that finding a purpose and
as a way to foster creativity and to education and support to the meaning in life was most important
motivate leaders” (Galen, 1995, individuals presenting with to them (Bulka, 1997).
para 2). addiction(s) or addictive behaviour Howden (1993) informs us
Workplace spirituality, according and may also be required to provide that purpose is the process
to Duchon and Plowman (2005), support to the family and the wider of searching for or discovering
is defined as a workplace that community (Alcohol and Drug events or relationships that give a
recognizes that employees have Counsellor, 2005). sense of worth, or reason, for our
an inner life that nourishes and The type of work that a person existence. The treatment centre
is nourished by meaningful work chooses is significant for several or the therapist’s workplace is,

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like other workplaces, a place that
provides connectedness to others here mindfulness is offered as a way of living
or the self (Conger & Elder, 1994). and working, it provides an opportunity to
This connection could be viewed reflect on values and what it is that brings meaning
for some as replacing what used to to one’s life
be experienced in churches, with
extended families and local social
groups that may no longer exist. aware of the influence of Church, Self-care is often referred to as
Pratt and Ashforth (2003) suggest faith practices or spirituality in his/ a necessary and beneficial part
that meaning is a subjective sense her life (Rusinova & Cash, 2007). of working in counselling and
that people make of their work. Spirituality for some therapists can some therapists find nature and
According to Baumeister and Vohs be more far-reaching and broader mindfulness soothing. Likewise,
(2002), meaning is a tool used by than religion. Counsellors have benefit can also be found in
individuals for imposing stability the knowledge and experience to ‘supervision’, which is a place where
in their life - something lacking know that people struggling with counsellors are psychologically
in the life of an addicted person. addiction can change and recover supported (Hayes, et al, 2004).
Baumeister (1991) suggests that because spirituality offers healing Some counsellors maintain that
as people’s work lives evolve, they and is essentially about recovery spirituality significantly influences
strive to fulfil needs for purpose, (Booth, 2012) or can have improved both the addict and themselves
values, efficacy and self-worth. Thus, treatment outcomes (Carter, 1998). in their ability to live responsibly
people look for a purpose and often The change or recovery occurs (Dilorenzo, Johnson and Bussey,
a deeper purpose in their work. when spirituality impacts on the 2001). When this is experienced,
Some addiction therapists garner therapist’s life due to a turning some therapists believe they should
meaning at work from the impact of point or because of the protection talk about and promote spirituality
Eastern philosophy (Brandt, 1996). and support from a higher power. as a way of getting into recovery
Where mindfulness is offered The change can also occur because (Newport, 2011 & Dossey, 2000).
as a way of living and working, it the counsellor is grateful to be Workplace spirituality (not
provides an opportunity to reflect of help to those seeking recovery religion) can, according to some
on values and what it is that brings (Arnold, et al., 2002). therapists, nourish them and
meaning to one’s life. Mindfulness Spirituality for some therapists their work because they view their
and values-based approaches can can include a ‘higher power’ that work as ‘meaningful’ (Duchon &
contribute to a therapist finding encompasses love and compassion Plowman, 2005). Likewise, some
psychological support in differential of the self and others (New Hope addiction counsellors may find
troublesome situations (Hayes, Recovery Centre, 2014). Some they are impacted by the support
Follette & Linehan, 2004). addiction therapists believe that is often present in group and
A possible struggle for the incorporating spirituality into the community settings where people
addiction therapist finding meaning recovery process offers themselves are on similar journeys. These
in their work is the financial value and the client social support, therapists also suggest that their
put on the therapist and this can optimism, and the ability to manage own spirituality and life is impacted
lead to a feeling of demoralisation and deal with stress, anger and by what they experience in their work
(Brandt, 1996; Hamal & Prahalad, sadness and also help with conflict (Bell & Taylor, 2004; Fry & Kriger,
1994; McWilliams, 2014; Osborn, resolution - all of which contribute to 2009; Dehler & Welsh, 2003, and
2004). a positive result (Corrington, 1989 Kinjerski & Skrypnek, 2006).
Some addiction therapists accept & Pardini, et al., 2000). There are Similarly, some addiction
that spirituality is not religion addiction therapists who, in a variety therapists note they are aware they
and the two should be regarded of ways, show their ability to be are impacted by spirituality through
as separate entities and can be fruitful and rich in their therapeutic discovering or rediscovering “their
treated and used differently (West, work, as well as having positive own purpose and core values,
2000). Irrespective of faith and/or results being creative, generative, [and by exploring] the negative
beliefs, practices and or spirituality and compassionate, connected consequences of the addictive
of the therapist, or indeed if the to people as well as being behaviour on these values” (Treloar,
therapist does not identify with any supported and enriched by different Dubreuil & Miranda, 2014, p.38),
of the above, it is important to be experiences that they have had. or by developing behaviours “that

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 17

IJCP Volume 19 • Issue 1 • Spring 2019

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has the ability to provide an open, or 087 991 6789. Aronson Inc.

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