Why We Must Identify Spiritual Emergencies Correctly

Imagine a person undergoing a profound spiritual crisis. They are hearing voices, feeling a connection to the divine, or experiencing a dissolution of the ego.

• If they walk into one office, they are labeled "psychotic" and medicated to stop the experience.

• If they walk into another, they are identified as having a "Spiritual Emergency" and supported in finding deeper meaning.

The difference between these two outcomes feels like life or death.

The 14th Competency

The 14th spiritual competency for psychologists focuses on identifying, diagnosing, and working with spiritual problems. A clinician competent in this area holds the power to decide whether a client is pathologized or understood.

We must be willing to accept the possibility that a client’s symptoms might be better explained by a spiritual crisis than a biological disorder. This doesn't mean we ignore mental illness; it means we widen our lens.

The Role of the Family

One fantastic strategy for managing these crises is involving the client's family or friends in treatment to help "contain" the experience.

Spiritual crises can be expansive and overwhelming. By bringing in a support system, we not only remind the client that they aren't alone, but we also educate the family. We turn a terrified family (who might be calling for an ambulance) into an empathetic container (who can sit with the client through the storm).