Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA - Master of Arts
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Tamar Hadar
Abstract
Spiritual emergencies are psychospiritual crises which often induce dramatic shifts in perception, emotional states, cognition, and social functioning. There is a significant lack of awareness of spiritual emergencies in the mental health profession, which contributes to mistreatment of individuals experiencing spiritual emergencies. Many symptoms appear similar to those of psychosis and are frequently misdiagnosed as such. Modern psychiatry aims to suppress and control symptoms of psychosis. This can be damaging to the recovery of someone experiencing a spiritual emergency. Spiritual emergencies are seen as a natural stage of development with immense positive potential for healing and growth. This literature review is an analysis of the concept of spiritual emergencies, including assessment, treatment and differentiation from psychosis. Art, which is a valuable resource for treating spiritual emergency, is a major focus of this thesis. While there is little published research into art therapy as a treatment for spiritual emergency, there is a growing evidence base for art therapy as a treatment for psychosis. This paper examines that evidence and reflects on how it applies to the treatment of spiritual emergencies. I will also share art I made during my own spiritual emergency and discuss how it enabled my recovery.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Golibersuch, Andrew, "Integration Through Art: Using Art Therapy to Treat Spiritual Emergencies with Psychotic Features" (2021). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 438.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/438
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