Understanding the Psychological Soul of Spirituality: A Guidebook for Research and Practice

Understanding the Psychological Soul of Spirituality is a comprehensive exploration of spiritual constructs based on an empirical, evidence-based paradigm for understanding and addressing spirituality.

In a field where there is no current consensus on spirituality, this book provides a much-needed psychologically based definition and ontology that assists helping professionals in formulating their professional identities; developing effective and appropriate training models; furthering their understanding of what spirituality is and is not, from a psychological perspective; and more effectively addressing spiritual issues to support clients.

The authors provide a review of current issues in the area of spirituality, also called the numinous, and provide perspectives that address these concerns in ways that promote a fully scientific understanding of the construct. Ultimately the book provides a concise definition of the numinous that places it squarely in the social sciences. Chapters outline the clear value of the numinous for psychology and detail its relevance for professionals’ training.

Ralph L. Piedmont, Ph.D., is managing director of the Center for Professional Studies in Timonium, Maryland USA.

Teresa A. Wilkins, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor and lecturer at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland USA.