Recovering Spirituality - by Ingrid Clayton (Paperback)

About the Book

Spirituality is a critical aspect of the Twelve Steps and other recovery programs. Yet, for those of us disposed to addiction, it can be easy to get so caught up in the idea of our Higher Power and the abundant joys of a spiritual life that we experience 'spiritual bypass'the use of spirituality to avoid dealing with ourselves, our emotions, and our unfinished business.

Book Synopsis

Guides those in recovery in developing the awareness and skills to deal with life's issues by practicing authentic spirituality and emotional sobriety.

Spirituality is a critical aspect of the Twelve Steps and other recovery programs. Yet, for those of us disposed to addiction, it can be easy to get so caught up in the idea of our Higher Power and the abundant joys of a spiritual life that we experience "spiritual bypass"--the use of spirituality to avoid dealing with ourselves, our emotions, and our unfinished business.In Recovering Spirituality, researcher and clinical psychologist Ingrid Mathieu uses personal stories and practical advice to teach us how to grow up emotionally and take responsibility for ourselves. Without turning away from the true benefits of an active spiritual program, she shows us how to work through life's challenges and periods of pain while evolving and maintaining an authentic relationship with our Higher Power.

Review Quotes

"Recovering Spirituality is a remarkable book. Ingrid Mathieu uncovers aspects of spirituality and recovery that clarify many of the struggles addicts--both clean and not so clean--deal with. Her insights into spiritual bypass, its dangers and potential, will inform my own teaching and recovery. If you are in recovery and wondering why you feel stalled, or if you are working with someone who is struggling with the program, read this book. It will open doors you didn't even know were there."
--Kevin Griffin, author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and The Twelve Steps, and A Burning Desire: Dharma God & The Path of Recovery
"Recovering Spirituality is a rich and provocative read for anyone in recovery who (knowingly or unknowingly) has wished for a spiritual escape from the difficulties of life. Instead, Ingrid Mathieu offers an authentic, spiritual path of living in the here and now and of being present to this wonderful, precious life. Don't miss this book."
--Therese Jacobs-Stewart, author of Mindfulness and the 12 Steps
"With great compassion and wisdom, Dr. Mathieu points out how walking the spiritual path in general, and specifically as a tool of recovery from addiction in any form, is a very subtle process with sidetracks, bypasses, and self-deceptions into which aspirants may fall, challenges that are common within all spiritual practices. Recovering Spirituality is a powerful, loving guide to spiritual maturity, psychological self-reliance, and emotional clarity. I highly recommend it."
--Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential
"A very important, lucid contribution to recovery literature, clearly exposing the very real problems that spiritual bypassing (the use of spiritual beliefs and practices to avoid dealing with pain and unresolved issues) poses in organizations like AA. For anyone involved in any way with AA, this is a book that should be carefully read and taken to heart."
--Robert Augustus Masters, PhD, author of Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters, and Meeting the Dragon: Ending Our Suffering by Entering Our Pain
"This much-needed and deeply important book offers profound insight into the human mind and heart. It looks deeply into the practice of spiritual bypassing--the use of spiritual ideas and practices to attempt to sidestep one's own unfinished emotional business. To my knowledge, Recovering Spirituality is also the first book to apply such inquiry to the process of recovery from addiction. In unraveling some of the mysteries of relapse and stalled recovery, it also offers an entirely unexpected twist on spiritual bypassing itself. A very valuable book for anyone in recovery--and anyone with a spiritual practice."
--Scott Edelstein, author of Sex and the Spiritual Teacher"

""Recovering Spirituality" is a remarkable book. Ingrid Mathieu uncovers aspects of spirituality and recovery that clarify many of the struggles addicts--both clean and not so clean--deal with. Her insights into spiritual bypass, its dangers and potential, will inform my own teaching and recovery. If you are in recovery and wondering why you feel stalled, or if you are working with someone who is struggling with the program, read this book. It will open doors you didn't even know were there."
--Kevin Griffin, author of "One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and The Twelve Steps, " and "A Burning Desire: Dharma God & The Path of Recovery"
""Recovering Spirituality" is a rich and provocative read for anyone in recovery who (knowingly or unknowingly) has wished for a spiritual escape from the difficulties of life. Instead, Ingrid Mathieu offers an authentic, spiritual path of living in the here and now and of being present to this wonderful, precious life. Don't miss this book."
--Therese Jacobs-Stewart, author of "Mindfulness and the 12 Steps"
"With great compassion and wisdom, Dr. Mathieu points out how walking the spiritual path in general, and specifically as a tool of recovery from addiction in any form, is a very subtle process with sidetracks, bypasses, and self-deceptions into which aspirants may fall, challenges that are common within all spiritual practices. "Recovering Spirituality" is a powerful, loving guide to spiritual maturity, psychological self-reliance, and emotional clarity. I highly recommend it."
--Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of "Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential"
"A very important, lucid contribution to recovery literature, clearly exposing the very real problems that spiritual bypassing (the use of spiritual beliefs and practices to avoid dealing with pain and unresolved issues) poses in organizations like AA. For anyone involved in any way with AA, this is a book that should be carefully read and taken to heart."
--Robert Augustus Masters, PhD, author of "Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters," and "Meeting the Dragon: Ending Our Suffering by Entering Our Pain"
"This much-needed and deeply important book offers profound insight into the human mind and heart. It looks deeply into the practice of spiritual bypassing--the use of spiritual ideas and practices to attempt to sidestep one's own unfinished emotional business. To my knowledge, "Recovering Spirituality" is also the first book to apply such inquiry to the process of recovery from addiction. In unraveling some of the mysteries of relapse and stalled recovery, it also offers an entirely unexpected twist on spiritual bypassing itself. A very valuable book for anyone in recovery--and anyone with a spiritual practice."
--Scott Edelstein, author of "Sex and the Spiritual Teacher""

About the Author

Ingrid Mathieu, PhD, has extensive experience counseling substance dependent clients. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California. This is her first book.Mathieu lives in Los Angeles, California.