Instilling Hope: Addressing Spiritual Conflict, Confusion, and Pain in Addiction Treatment
Information
Recorded
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Educational Goal
Participants will gain knowledge of the role of spirituality in substance use disorder treatment.
Description
Spirituality and the search for meaning in life enable renewal and connection. Conversely, addiction is a disease of disconnection. Individuals suffering from addiction lose connection with self, essential relationships, and engagement in caring for the body, mind, and spirit. When individuals are stuck in beliefs that no longer serve their growth, a dynamic and painful sense of isolation grows.
Treatment providers are in a unique position of trust. They are equipped to encourage re-engagement in these vital aspects of life regardless of personal perspectives and experiences with spirituality. Reconnection to the spiritual self is not the sole province of religious or spiritual leaders. In caring for clients, it is possible to inspire the journey to hope and wonder.
Spirituality can support clients to seek a return to a sense of belonging, purpose, and an increased desire to make healthy changes. For providers, this means more than simply referring clients to seek spiritual answers from other sources. It requires a movement from concern and avoidance of this powerful aspect of humanity into an openness to walk clients through their experiences of loss, shame, grief, hopelessness, and isolation into an exploration of wonder and hope for newness and growth.
This presentation discusses the integration of spiritual experiences in addiction treatment, developing courage and hope for both treatment providers and clients, practices for incorporating spiritual support in treatment planning and addressing spiritual conflict and confusion in individuals suffering from addiction.
Target Audience
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Social Worker
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Joshua Love is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, chaplain, and educator pursuing a second graduate degree in clinical mental health to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. Joshua has diverse expertise related to substance use disorder treatment: spirituality and mindfulness-based foundations, intensive family education services in residential SUD treatment, telehealth family programming, and experiential group therapy and psychoeducation. Joshua has worked for nearly 30 years in various areas of human services, including residential treatment, nonprofits, public health, and faith-based organizations. His work focused on addiction, spirituality, disabilities, and marginalized identities through education, prevention, and counseling. Joshua strives to provide patients and families an opportunity to return to a sense of belonging and hope. He completed a clinical pastoral residency as a chaplain in San Francisco, California, and was director of a global HIV/AIDS ministry and addiction education program. Joshua authored a text and workshop curriculum used in U.S. and international faith communities. He recently completed training to become a Structured Family Recovery® counselor. Joshua is committed to helping families find paths for healing and restoration. Since 2018, Joshua has worked for Origins Behavioral Healthcare and serves as the Director of Family Services at South Padre Island, Texas.
Financially Sponsored By
- Origins Behavioral HealthCare