Counselling Adolescents when "Spiritual Emergence" Becomes "Spiritual Emergency.".

Abstract

This article provides a rationale for a closer examination and recognition of unusual consciousness events in adolescence that have a specifically spiritual content of the kind described by Stan and Christina Grof as "spiritual emergency". A case vignette is discussed in the light of new understandings about how non-ordinary spiritual experiences in adolescence, triggered by loss and grief, can lead to self-actualising outcomes. This article will broadly discuss these experiences and suggest attitudes and strategic positions that counsellors can adopt to help them recognise spiritual emergence and spiritual emergency in their adolescent clients, and to encourage their disclosure and support [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Zealand Journal of Counselling is the property of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)