Spiritual emergence is considered an ordinary process of human
improvement that is above mundane feelings and needs of the personal ego into the transpersonal states of expanding connection to a Higher Power, or God. It is an adjustment to more imperceptible levels of consciousness.
This category can be used when the focus of clinical attention is a religious or spiritual problem. Examples include distressing experiences that involve loss or questioning of faith, problems associated with conversion to a new faith, or questioning of other spiritual values which may not necessarily be related to an organized church or religious institution’. (American Psychiatric Association, 1994,p. 685)
Types of:
o Spiritual emergence
o mystical experiences
o near-death experiences
o meditation and spiritual practices
o psychic experiences
o visionary experiences
o shamanic crisis
o alien encounter experiences
o possession experiences.
Treatment:
Since spiritual emergencies could harm the individual or others, seeking help from a mental health professional is important and treatment is nessacery.
Therapeutic interventions for a person experiencing an adaptive ASC can include the following: (adapted from Lukoff 9)
• Normalisation
• Grounding
• Reduction of environmental and interpersonal stimulation
• Temporary discontinuation of spiritual practices
• Encouragement of creative therapies (art, music, writing, poetry, dance)
• Creation of a therapeutic encounter/transpersonal psychotherapy
• Consideration for specific bodywork
• Evaluate for medication
