ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the psychological perspective on dying, mourning, and spirituality with an emphasis on what’s called psychospiritual transformation. More simply, this chapter discusses the role of spiritual and religious changes for some people when adapting to loss. When something like death or significant loss challenges existing beliefs, new meanings, a revised self-concept, and new ways of living can emerge. As counselors, there is incredible opportunity to explore the impact of addiction-related loss(es). The idea that loss can change the way people view the world runs throughout this model and the four phases are detailed in this chapter in their original form and in relation to addiction and recovery. They include: (1) cognitive restructuring, (2) emotional expression, (3) psychological reintegration, and (4) psychospiritual transformation.
