Research

We are interested in studying human experiences that are outside our usual day-to-day experiencing of the world. The term most commonly used in the psychological research for this realm of experience is 'Anomalous Experiences', but many different terms have also been used, such as 'Exceptional Experiences' - 'Extreme Experiences' - 'Unusual Experiences' - 'Transformational Experiences' - 'Spiritual Experiences' - 'Out of the Ordinary Experiences' (OOEs) - 'Religious Experiences' etc.

An Evaluation of the UK Spiritual Crisis Network

A PhD research study evaluating the work of the SCN was completed in 2021. The results are now available as a summary report and an article for publication in an academic journal is now being prepared.

This project was undertaken by Mike Rush via Canterbury Christ Church University supported by the Professional Development Foundation and the Alef Trust.

SCN Conference 2 April 2022 - Spiritual Crises: Supporting Positive Transformations

The full conference programme, abstracts, and speaker biographies can be downloaded here: Speakers & Abstracts

Video recordings of Steve Taylor’s talk and the panel discussion on spiritually transformative experiences facilitated by Isabel Clarke can be found on the SCN YouTube channel here.

The following speakers have also made their PowerPoint slides available below:

Transformation and Turmoil: When Spiritual Awakening is Sudden and Dramatic - Dr Steve Taylor

An Evaluation of the UK Spiritual Crisis Network - Mike Rush

Evidence-based Practices for Integrating Spiritual Emergencies - Dr Marie Grace Brook

Other Research

There are relatively few empirical studies on spiritual crisis (or spiritual emergency). However, despite the dearth of academic studies in this area there are five main themes of research emerging that support the approach that the SCN currently takes. These are summarised below and some of the key articles are cited.

Alternative Approaches

The first theme is comprised of the evaluation studies done on alternative approaches to psychosis and schizophrenia in the 1970s and 1980s. These take a psycho-social approach that minimises the use of medication and encourages the working through of the experience as a problem-solving process in a safe communal space.

• Mosher, L. (1999). Soteria and Other Alternatives to Acute Psychiatric Hospitalization. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 187, 142–149.

• Mosher, L., & Bola, J. (2004). Soteria-California and its American Successors. Ethical Human Psychology & Psychiatry, 6(1), 7–23.

• Mosher, L., Vallone, R., & Menn, A. (1995). The Treatment of Acute Psychosis Without Neuroleptics. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 41(3), 157–173.

Positive Appraisals

The second theme consists of the more recent studies that assess the effects of the appraisal of an experience, by self or others, on its outcome. Positive appraisals tend to result in less distress and reduce the need for clinical intervention.

• Hartley, J., & Daniels, M. (2008). A grounded theory investigation into negative paranormal or spiritual experience, based on the ‘diabolical mysticism’ of William James. Transpersonal Psychology Review, 21(1), 51–72.

• Heriot-Maitland, Charlie, Knight, M., & Peters, E. (2012). A Qualitative Comparison of Psychotic-Like Phenomena in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 37–53.

• Brett, C., Heriot-Maitland, C., McGuire, P., & Peters, E. (2014). Predictors of Distress Associated with Psychotic-like Anomalous Experiences in Clinical and Non-clinical Populations. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53, 213–227.

Narratives and Frameworks

The third theme evidences the importance of a narrative, story, or framework of understanding for the process. These frameworks can be based upon psychological and transpersonal models. Any number of spiritual systems or religious traditions can also provide a context within which to make sense of the experience and different cultural perspectives are important to consider too.

• Hartley, J. (2010). Mapping Our Madness: The Hero's Journey as A Therapeutic Approach. In Psychosis and Spirituality: Consolidating the New Paradigm (pp. 227-238). Wiley-Blackwell.

• Clarke, I., Mottram, K., Taylor, S., & Pegg, H. (2017). Narratives of Transformation In Psychosis. In Spirituality and Narrative in Psychiatric Practice: Stories of Mind and Soul (pp. 108–120). Royal College of Psychiatrists.

• Fischler, R. (2019). The Crux of the Crisis: An ethnography of UK Spiritual Peer-Support Networks on narratives and experiences of mental health/spiritual crisis as types of knowledges. MSc Thesis, University of Amsterdam.

Behaviours and Practices

The fourth theme, which is currently the least researched, investigates the effectiveness of particular self-help attitudes, behaviours and practices. There have been no studies that assess the effectiveness of any specific psychotherapeutic interventions for spiritual crisis. However, Brook’s (2019) study did examine the effectiveness of 84 behaviours and practices. Those rated most helpful were practising compassion, finding calmer environments, expression of the experience through creativity, and allowing psycho-spiritual issues to surface rather than resisting them.

• Brook, M. G. (2019). Struggles Reported Integrating Intense Spiritual Experiences: Results From a Survey Using the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

  
  

Complementary Strategies

Finally, there appear to be two main strategies for managing a spiritual crisis: a “suppressive” strategy for calming down and regaining some control of the process, and a “facilitative” strategy for exploring the deeper personal meaning and significance of the experience.

• Sedlakova, H., & Rihacek, T. (2019). The Incorporation of a Spiritual Emergency Experience Into a Client’s Worldview: A Grounded Theory. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 59(6), 877–897.
  
  

These five themes form the empirical foundation upon which the SCN bases its approach: providing information and advice via its email support service, organising face-to-face peer-support via its local and online groups, and providing education and awareness raising via its events and conferences.

The SCN Research Group

This is a small group of researchers and others interested in research into spiritual crisis. Researchers from different universities, pursing various post-graduate programmes of study, meet each month online to report on and share their work. Some of this research was presented at SCN conferences at the University of Sunderland in 2013 and at Mundesley Hospital in 2015.

The new SCN Research Group met for the first time on 14th November 2020.

If you are interested in joining the new SCN Research Group please contact Mike Rush via the Contact Us page.

SCN Statistics

The SCN monitors some basic statistics in order to evaluate the services it provides.

In 2020 the SCN was contacted by 258 people. 128 of these were asking for support for or advice about their own experiences. 27 were asking on behalf of someone else.

In 2020 the SCN received 58 thank you messages and 0 complaints.

For Further Information…

For further information about research into spiritual crisis in general, or about the SCN evaluation study in particular, please contact Mike Rush