Defining Spiritual Emergency: A Content Validity Study

Abstract

<p>Spiritual emergency (SEY) is a process of spiritual emergence (SE) or awakening that becomes traumatic for an individual, leading to a state of psychological crisis. The current study aimed to operationalize and empirically validate a definition of SEY. Twenty expert participants (i.e., academic, clinical and experiential) completed two rounds of a modified online Delphi-style questionnaire. Quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed ideological differences among experts that precluded the achievement of consensus and agreement when defining SEY. However, numerous themes were identified, and remained stable across the two rounds of the study: differentiation, spiritual emergence(y) continuum, crisis, ego, understanding (self and others), and transformation and growth. These themes may be used as the basis to guide further empirical inquiry. We propose that this is a necessary step towards assisting in appropriate and culturally sensitive diagnosis and treatment of religious and spiritual issues that are preventing individuals from achieving their fullest potential.</p>