Spirituality is a subject which is often neglected in nursing education. The purpose of this study was to determine associate degree nursing faculty’s perception of their ability to teach the spiritual dimension in the delivery of nursing care. The study explored whether faculty have received training related to spiritual care, how and where nursing programs integrate spirituality education into the curriculum, nursing faculty’s understanding of the terms spirituality and spiritual care, and faculty members perception of whether they receive sufficient support and guidance in teaching related to spirituality and spiritual care. Survey research was used in this study. The participants were recruited from publicly funded associate degree nursing programs in the southeast who are accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The number of faculty participants was 206. The Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS,) (McSherry & Jamieson, 2011) was used to explore nursing faculties’ understanding of the terms spirituality and spiritual care. The findings showed that participants had very strong beliefs about spirituality and its intrinsic value to patients. The Spiritual Care Content Scale (SCCS; Lemmer, 2002) explored what content was taught in nursing programs, the content most often covered included (a) the influence of cultural beliefs on spiritual care (77.9%), (b) spiritual needs of the dying and their families (76.2%), (c) the assessment of spiritual needs (71.3%), and (d) active listening as a means of spiritual care (66.2%). Integration of spirituality education into the nursing curriculum was also, addressed. Not surprisingly, lecture was the main method for teaching the spiritual dimension, followed by discussions, clinical and reading assignments, nursing models, role play and guest speakers. The final question sought faculty member’s perception of whether they receive sufficient support and guidance in teaching related to spirituality and spiritual care. The majority of the faculty said no (84.1%, n=146). These findings support the literature regarding the lack of perceived training and support for nurses related to the spiritual dimension and the need for greater integration of spirituality and spiritual care in the nursing curriculum. Providing guidelines for the provision of spiritual care and continued research in this area is warranted.

This thesis explores the relationship between emancipatory politics and spirituality, and what this has to offer a critical postmodern approach to social work. At the centre of this thesis is a focus on forming a connection between critical postmodern social work theory and liberation spirituality. Liberation spirituality is a framework proposed by Joel Kovel which has at its heart connects emancipation and spirituality. My first chapter outlines my research approach. Chapter two explores the diversity and complexity of spiritual meanings, examines the influence of the western context on spirituality, analyses the relationship between language and spirituality, and outlines my assumptions in relation to spirituality. Chapter three examines the historical and social context influencing social workers' engagement with spiritual issues. It also explores the engagement of current social work literature with issues of spirituality. Chapters four and five consider distinctions between critical social work in the modernist tradition, and critical postmodern social work. This establishes why critical postmodern social work approaches are more suited to engage with spiritual issues. The conceptual connection between critical postmodern social work and liberation spirituality is explored in chapter six and chapter seven. The latter in particular includes a detailed examination of the relationship between emancipatory politics and spirituality. The thesis concludes in chapter eight by analysing implications of this conceptual connection.

ABSTRACT SPIRITUALITY IN SUPERVISION: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY by Deborah K. Ross The counseling profession has recognized the importance of spirituality in the counseling process (Hall, Dixon, & Mauzey, 2004; Kelly Jr., 1994; Miranti, 2007; Young, Wiggins-Frame, & Cashwell, 2007). As a component of providing quality care, Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development Counseling Competencies call upon counselors to respect clients’ religious and spiritual beliefs as a matter of diversity (Arredondo et al., 1996). A supervisor’s approach to spirituality shapes the nature not only of the supervision itself but also of the supervisee’s practice (American Counseling Association, 2005). While authors (Aten & Hernandez, 2004; Bishop et al., 2003; Carlson et al., 2002; Frame, 2003; Isakson et al., 2001; Kilpatrick & Holland, 1990; Okundaye et al., 1999; Polanski, 2003; Stebnicki, 2006) have suggested that supervisors are already addressing spirituality in supervision, little data exist about the process of how supervisors actually incorporate spirituality in their supervision. In this manuscript, the author provides a conceptual consideration of effective ways to discuss spirituality in supervision with implications from Quaker practices, Native American spiritual teachings, and models of spiritual development from Sukyo Mahikari. In the second chapter, the author presents the results of a qualitative phenomenological methodology (Creswell, 2007) to examine three research questions: How are supervisors helping their supervisees conceptualize the involvement of spirituality with their clients? How are supervisors teaching their supervisees to process spiritual content to help their clients? How does a supervisor inform her own therapeutic perspective on spirituality? Eleven supervisors who integrate spirituality in their practices shared their supervision experiences. Their recorded interviews were transcribed, examined for significant statements, and then synthesized into descriptions of essential essences (Creswell, 2007). The meaning units are described in three stages: 1. beginning to be, during which time the supervisors describe how spirituality shows up in their work with supervisees in regards to creating a safe and authentic space for supervisees to explore their own therapeutic spiritual framework and practice working from their authentic selves; 2. creating a map to all directions, a co-creation of the supervisor and supervisee regarding the nature and boundaries of spiritual experiences; and 3. sojourning, the collaborative journey in which learning and processing spiritual experiences shapes how the supervisors foster spiritual presence and authenticity. Keywords: spirituality, supervision, therapy, phenomenology, Quaker, Sukyo Mahikari, Native American spirituality

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-169).

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1995. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [66]-69).

Thesis (M.G.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Sociology and Gerontology, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-38).

abstract: Spirituality has been studied in relation to psychological factors in health for the past decade and has been found to promote positive affect while possibly benefiting health. However, multiple dimensions of spirituality need to be examined systematically before much can be concluded regarding the influence of spirituality on health. One purpose of this study was to test the validity of the four factors of the Psychomatrix Spirituality Inventory (PSI) developed by Wolman using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA): divinity, mindfulness, extrasensory perception, and intellectuality. In addition, the moderation effects of these factors on stress, assessed by cortisol levels, and on perceived cold symptoms induced by a bogus cold viral challenge were investigated among 100 participants as part of a larger study conducted by Nemeroff to identify psychological factors related to perceived cold susceptibility under a bogus viral challenge paradigm. The analysis of CFA among 265 participants indicated that the four-factor Pyscholmatrix Spirituality model did not provide a good fit to the data collected by Nemeroff. The shared variances among factors could be the explanation for failure to confirm these four factors. Women developed more cold symptoms than did men post bogus exposure. Mindfulness and extrasensory perception factors buffered the adverse effects of stress on cold symptoms. A three-way-interaction among gender, stress, and mindfulness indicated that the buffering effects of mindfulness on stress and cold symptoms were stronger for women than for men, and the effects were stronger when the stress levels increased. A three-way-interaction was also found among gender, stress, and extrasensory perception, with the moderation effects of extrasensory perception on stress and cold symptoms stronger for women than for men, and these effects becoming stronger as stress levels elevated. This study is an important step for understanding the relationships among gender, spiritual factors and cortisol levels under laboratory-induced stress. These results have implications for developing preventions or interventions that incorporate mindfulness practices and take extrasensory perception beliefs into consideration for stress reduction and health promotion. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Counseling Psychology 2010

LGB individuals seek out counseling at higher rates than their straight counterparts and they tend to present for counseling with concerns that are unique and different from heterosexuals, such as difficulty reconciling one's sexual orientation with one's own religious beliefs. Yet counselors and counselors-in-training indicate that they have received very little education and/or training for working competently with LGB clients or with clients dealing with issues of religion and spirituality. The counseling profession could benefit from research providing in-depth and descriptive information as to the experiences of LGB participants who have same-sex attractions and come from a religious faith tradition that is not embracing of a non-heterosexual orientation identity in order for counselors to more fully understand the issues these LGB clients might present with. To begin addressing this need this dissertation was undertaken with the purpose of examining the experiences of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who currently have or have had same-sex attractions. A phenomenological methodology was used in order to collect and analyze the data from two semi-structured interviews with 10 Caucasian women who: were born into and raised in the LDS religion; had resided in either Utah or Idaho during their formative years; and, had indicated that they had experienced a same-sex attraction. Results indicated that the women in this study struggled with: figuring out and identifying themselves as a non-heterosexual person, the LDS religion and religious culture, and coming out to others in their lives. In-depth descriptions are provided highlighting the commonalities and ways in which the women in this study experienced difficulty and conflict during their experience of having a same-sex attraction within the LDS religious culture. The results of this study have compelling implications for counselors working with this population as well as counselor educators in charge of the training and education of counseling students.

Christian Spirituality Church History and Missiology / Thesis (D. Th. (Christian Spirituality))

abstract: Predominant sustainability pedagogy and science largely focus on fixing existingproblems via solutions external to humans (e.g. carbon sequestration, renewable energy). While external or outer interventions can support a transition to a sustainable future, internal or inner developments should also be highly valued. For this dissertation, I define sustainability as the ability of any individual, community or country to meet their needs and live happily without compromising the ability of other individuals, communities, countries and future generations to meet their needs and live happily. Framed this way, a sustainable and happy life should focus on both outer and inner development, the latter largely unconsidered in sustainability science and scholarship. I propose that emphasizing spiritual wellbeing and spiritual practices can support individuals and communities to act with mindfulness, awareness, compassion, connection, and love, transitioning to a more sustainable existence. This dissertation consists of three studies: (1) the development of a theoretical framework identifying spirituality as the missing link between sustainability and happiness, (2) an empirical pilot study testing the theoretical framework via contemplative practices in a sustainability classroom, and (3) an autoethnography exploring my inner development and transformation as a sustainability and spirituality researcher over the past four years. The theoretical framework found and posits, based on existing literature, that spirituality indeed may be the missing link between an unsustainable existence and a sustainably and happy future. Results from the empirical study suggest that a focus on spirituality leads students to develop inner traits necessary for sustainable behavior and a deeper understanding of sustainability. My autoethnography demonstrates the spiritual ii transformation possible from integrating spiritual well-being and intellect, while striving to embody sustainability as a spiritual journey. My research supports further studies and a greater understanding of the importance of spiritual well-being to sustainability and the incorporation of contemplative practices in sustainability classrooms. Finally, I hope this dissertation will (1) inspire sustainability scientists, researchers, and students to integrate spiritual well-being as an important part of their lives and work, and (2) encourage deeper conversations about the radical inner shift we need to achieve lasting sustainability for all beings. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2020