A Review of

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Feb 20, 2024

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PRAYER AS AN INTERVENTION REVIEW 1 A Review of: “Using Prayer as an Intervention With Clients Who Are Substance Abusing and Addicted and Who Self-Identify Personal Faith in God and Prayer as Recovery Resources” Alice Churchwell Liberty University Online CEFS506

PRAYER AS AN INTERVENTION REVIEW 2 Summary Introduction Many persons are plagued with addictions and life-altering habits that they cannot seem to escape independently. Different recovery groups use different methods. However, in this study, prayer and belief in a higher power, God, are incorporated into counseling settings and help establish treatment goals with individual clients. In “Using Prayer as an Intervention with Clients Who Are Substance Abusing and Addicted and Who Self-Identify Personal Faith in God and Prayer as Recovery Resources,” authors Juhnke, Watts, Guerra, & Hsieh (2009) further investigate prayer treatment intervention . At the time of this article, spirituality was an accepted practice among many, popular and trending. Currently, this still rings true, as “CACREP now requires newly accredited programs to help the student understand “the role of spirituality in the addiction’s recovery process” (CACREP, 2009, p. 18)”, (Juhnke et al., 2009). Throughout their educational experience and continual training, counselors are urged to combine spirituality with recovery. The ACA Code of Ethics (2014) addresses this approach of counseling within its preamble and its code of ethics, stating that it is important to honor multiculturalism/diversity and develop a counseling plan with each client while respecting their freedom of choice. Counselors and support groups have been open to spirituality, specifically God and prayer, being a central element of recovery groups. Traditional 12-step programs use prayer as a spiritual activity to connect clients to God and require such interaction with “a divine” to request direction, comfort, and support. Such mottos as “I can't, He can, I think I’ll let Him” and the “serenity prayer” are used within these traditional groups to improve clients’ conscious contact with God. The article by Juhnke et al. (2009) also reveals that “clients have reported prayer as beneficial when they experience cravings or stressors outside of treatment sessions.”

PRAYER AS AN INTERVENTION REVIEW 3 Furthermore, counselors should assess individual clients before using prayer as a desirable part of recovery. Using prayer treatment intervention can be assessed through a simple 4 question interview and can be an effective tool for those recovering from addictions. Prayer can be utilized in sessions taking a little amount of time in the opening or closing of the session, and the assessment can easily be rendered as not applicable if the client answers no to any of the following: “Do you believe in God or a higher power? Do you believe God or your higher power desires you to discontinue ___________(addiction)? Do you pray to God or your higher power? Some of our clients report an interest in using prayer within counseling sessions. Would integrating prayer and counseling be something you might be interested in further discussing,” (Juhnke et al., 2009). The recovering client is never forced to pray but instead is given the opportunity to incorporate if it is deemed clinically appropriate by the counselor and has been established that the client desires such as part of their addictions counseling. These authors have established and disclosed four methods for counselors as a means of implementation. The first method ties into establishing treatment goals for the client. This is when the counselor reflects on what the client has already stated and gives the client the opportunity at the beginning of the session to take a moment with the Lord and ask for guidance regarding treatment goals that would work best in their recovery process. The client may be reserved regarding praying aloud or may immediately go to God in prayer. Based on the preference of the client, the counselor can reassure and assist the client by providing a list of options by reiterating what the client had replied during the assessment and giving scenarios in which other clients had utilized prayer. The second method also depends on the clients wishes and is used at the beginning of the session with the individual. The counselor can restate what was shared at the last session,

PRAYER AS AN INTERVENTION REVIEW 4 including God as a means to develop treatment goals and to influence the flow and discussions of the current session. This method also gives the individual complete control and will help guide the session's course of action. Again, the client can pray, or the counselor can pray for the client, asking the Lord for this guidance. The counselor should also remember that even though a client had previously stated that they would like to utilize prayer as a tool for recovery, the client can and may change their mind and wish to discontinue at any time. When utilizing method three, the client remains the deciding factor on if/when prayer is incorporated into their recovery process. Within this method, prayer is incorporated at the end of the session. This method is used as a means of recap for the client to affirm what they have learned throughout the session and summarize in prayer as a means to face the upcoming days or weeks ahead. Either the client or the counselor may pray at the end of the session based on the client's preference . This prayer is meant to remind the client of the insights gained during the session and encourage them to make choices that will aid in their recovery process. It serves as a gentle reminder to stay focused and trust in oneself while also increasing the expectation that God will guide the client during their recovery journey. The final method of using prayer as a resource and means to recovery, explored in this article, is a prayer used by the individual client, not in session but when faced with life's hardships and challenges. This is when the counselor encourages the client to apply prayer as a resource outside of the session. The counselor and client can discuss this method, with the counselor explaining that the client can call on God for wisdom with thankfulness for His direction in times of stress and feeling overwhelmed. In conclusion, prayer is a spiritual activity that can be incorporated into the treatment process just as easily as any other strategy within the recovery community. This article outlines

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