The Soul of Recovery: Uncovering the Spiritual Dimension in the Treatment of AddictionsMillions of alcoholics and addicts recover through spirituality. In The Soul of Recovery: Uncovering the Spiritual Dimension in the Treatment of Addictions, author and journalist Christopher D. Ringwald tells how and why they seek and achieve these transformations. Ranging as far back as the Washingtonian Total Abstinence Society in 1840, Ringwald illuminates the use of spirituality within a wide range of treatment options--from the famous Twelve Step-style programs to those tailored to the needs of addicted women, Native Americans, or homeless teens not ready to quit. Focusing on the results rather than the validity of beliefs espoused by these programs, he demonstrates how addicts recover through practices such as self-examination, meditation, prayer and reliance on a self-defined higher power. But the most compelling evidence of spirituality's importance comes from those directly involved in the process. Ringwald traveled across the country to visit dozens of programs and interview hundreds of addicts, alcoholics, counselors, family members, doctors and scientists. Many share moving stories of suffering, survival, and redemption. A homeless man, a surgeon, a college student, a working mother-each describes the descent into addiction and how spirituality offered a practical, personal means to recovery. Ringwald also examines the controversies surrounding faith-based treatment and the recovery movement, from the conflict between science and spirituality, to skepticism about the "new age" brand of spirituality these programs encourage, to constitutional issues over court-mandated participation in allegedly religious treatment programs. Combining in-depth research with powerful personal accounts, this fascinating exploration of spirituality will provide a fuller understanding of the nature of addiction and how people overcome it. |
Contents
3 | |
The Middle Class and Mainstream Treatment | 29 |
Womens Treatment Womens Spirituality | 51 |
Native American Treatment and Indian Spirituality | 79 |
Measuring Results Measuring the Soul Science and the Spirit | 109 |
Our God No God Religious Methods and Secular Approaches | 135 |
Harm Reduction Challenging Tradition on the Street with Transcendence | 159 |
Treating HardCore Addicts From Secular Practicality to Practical Spirituality in Therapeutic Communities | 186 |
The Recovery Movement Recovering God Recovering Self | 214 |
FaithBased Solutions in a Democracy | 239 |
NOTES | 271 |
287 | |
299 | |
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Common terms and phrases
abstinence abuse accept addicts alcoholics Alcoholics Anonymous American approach attend become behavior beliefs better cause Center church clients concept considered continues counselors dependent developed disease drinking drugs effect experience faith feel funding give groups harm higher power House human idea Indian individual Institute involves later learned least lives look means meetings ment mental methods mind months moral Native nature offer once patients percent person practices prison problems programs recovered recovery reduce relapse religion religious reported residents responsibility role says sense sober Sobriety social society solution spiritual Steps stop street substance abuse success suggests talk tells things thought tion told traditional treat treatment turn Twelve Twelve-Step University usually values women York
References to this book
12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food Victoria Boutenko No preview available - 2007 |