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Saints Run Mad 2.0: Further Deliberations on Recovery from Addictions Through a Transpersonal Lens

Pastoral Psychology volume 65, pages 197–213 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

This article examines major inconsistencies that arise between the broad theories, spirit, and ideals of transpersonal psychology and its support of twelve-step programs. In place of this alliance, an alternative spiritual framework for recovery is proposed that is construed from the critical application of both contemporary transpersonal theory and addictions research. It is noted in conclusion that, although the transpersonal field has gone to great lengths to promote intrapsychic forms of healing from addiction, additional research pertaining to the socio-cultural dimensions of a distinct transpersonal recovery is imperative.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to my CIIS dissertation committee, Craig Chalquist, Carol Whitfield, and James Nolan for their encouragement. A special hello to the kind folks I met at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM and the usual suspects I have not had the pleasure of meeting: Orange, Silver, and Ken Ragge. Gratitude also to Ebede Ndi, Attila Szabo, Victor Pobihuschy, Alexis Clarke, Wendy Salem, and Jorge Ferrer for their precious input. And finally, mom, dad, Juliana, Andy, Jim M., Natalie, Peter James, Nicole Poelle, the editorial review board at Pastoral Psychology, and Eve Donnelly.

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    Peter Anthony Eng

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Eng, P.A. Saints Run Mad 2.0: Further Deliberations on Recovery from Addictions Through a Transpersonal Lens. Pastoral Psychol 65, 197–213 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-015-0678-9

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Keywords

  • Transpersonal psychology
  • Addiction
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Biopsychosocial model