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A Framework for Addressing Spirituality in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: The Three-Legged Stool

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New Directions in Treatment, Education, and Outreach for Mental Health and Addiction

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Abstract

Although spirituality has long been considered to be a protective factor in the treatment of substance use disorders, little has been done to operationalize the various dimensions of spirituality in clinical settings. The aim of this paper was to propose a framework – the three-legged stool – to act as a structure for spiritual interventions. The “stool” consists of three “legs”: creativity (creative arts and play therapy techniques), service (helping others), and solitude (contemplative prayer and meditation). The components of the framework are explained and support for the inclusion of each leg is offered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Atlantic University, School of Social Work, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    E. Gail Horton & Naelys Luna

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  1. E. Gail Horton
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  2. Naelys Luna
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Correspondence to Naelys Luna .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. SUNY Empire State College, Community and Human Services, New York, New York, USA

    Thalia MacMillan

  2. Department of Social Work, Lehman College, Bronx, New York, USA

    Amanda Sisselman-Borgia

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Gail Horton, E., Luna, N. (2018). A Framework for Addressing Spirituality in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: The Three-Legged Stool. In: MacMillan, T., Sisselman-Borgia, A. (eds) New Directions in Treatment, Education, and Outreach for Mental Health and Addiction. Advances in Mental Health and Addiction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72778-3_13

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