The effects of problems are observable, such as financial issues, career obstacles, and relationship breakdowns caused by excessive alcohol consumption. However, to address substance-related and addictive disorders, it is important to explore what is not immediately apparent. There are many clinical, spiritual, and alternative approaches available to substance abuse.
There may be an underlying issue that is not immediately apparent, such as a lack of purpose, declining health, or a loss of hope and confidence. This issue can be imagined as a hole in one’s being, which can be filled with something that temporarily relieves the pain.
Various approaches can be taken to address these issues, including seeking a clinical evaluation and following recommendations. Individual counseling or coaching sessions may be required, as well as attending peer-led support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, or Darma Recovery. In more severe cases, inpatient rehabilitation stays and pharmaceutical interventions may be necessary.
As a peer-led group facilitator, Recovery Coach, and Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor at Recovery Café since 2015, I have observed that these methods are commonly employed. It is likely that similar approaches are used elsewhere.
So, then what is the difference between clinical and alternative approaches to substance?
As we delve into the realm of addiction treatment, we find ourselves in a complex and non-linear world where the usual metrics of evidence-based medicine fall short. The question of what works and what doesn’t becomes a matter of individual fit and success, rather than any objective measure of success.
In this esoteric realm of philosophy, spirituality, and religion, we must turn to abstract thought, theory, and faith to find our way. It is much like the difference between pharmaceuticals and herbal medicine, where the latter is often discounted because of the inability to measure its effectiveness scientifically.
This is where Shamanic Counseling for Addiction and spiritual counseling for substance use come into play. These programs rely on inner and outer work, using tools such as meditation, yoga, shamanic journeys, plant-based psychedelics, and other ceremonies. These tools allow us to explore the non-visible aspects of addiction, and the answers to our questions often emerge from these explorations.
In addition to the tools, regular meetings with a practitioner or coach provide an opportunity to discuss mindfulness, purpose, passion, life path, and instruction on how to use various tools. Finding a practitioner with experience in substance abuse disorder and recovery is crucial, and checking their qualifications and reviews is essential.
Ultimately, the success of any addiction treatment depends on the individual’s commitment to their choice to quit or cut back. It is not about the qualifications of the practitioner or the tools used, but about the individual’s dedication and conviction. In this existential view of addiction treatment, the power to change lies within the individual.
So, then what is Shamanism?
Today, I invite you to journey with me into the world of shamanism – an ancient and contemporary practice of healing and empowerment. It is where alternative approaches to substance abuse become spiritual approaches.
Shamanism is considered the oldest form of healing and encompasses a sophisticated technology of consciousness that has been used for over 40,000 years. It offers a holistic perspective of our sense of self, connecting us to the ecological, cosmological, and evolutionary aspects of our existence. In shamanism, the sacred and the profane merge into one pulsating reality of being.
Despite being misunderstood and viewed with skepticism in some cultures, recent anthropological, psychological, and neurobiological findings have shown that shamanism is a valuable consciousness technology that can work in conjunction with modern medicine to promote well-being and healing.
Shamanism is a cross-cultural human mind-body-spirit ecological technology of consciousness, involving processes of perception and awareness that can be easily remembered and re-learned with support and guidance. It has existed throughout history in many places in the world, including Australia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, Polynesia, and Micronesia.
Contemporary shamanism is respectful of religious faiths and is not a religion or dogma. Instead, it is based on the vast terrain of our human consciousness and our access and connection to the broader fields of consciousness that exist within and beyond our physical bodies.
Shamanism is concerned with the well-being of the soul’s embodied life in this world and our interconnection with our wider environment of family, community, precious earth, and the wider cosmos. It recognizes that trauma and negative experiences can lead to soul separation or soul loss, which may cause depression, anxiety, disorientation, loss of hope, and even physical illness. Shamanism seeks to help individuals, families, and communities reconnect with their authentic essence, gifts, and creativity to realize their full potential of Being that exists deep within them.
In essence, shamanism is a highly practical healing therapy concerned with empowering and strengthening individuals, families, communities, and our world regardless of ethnicity, race, color, creed, or origin. It is an ancient and contemporary practice offering sophisticated and practical insight into our true nature and rightful place as a species within our world and cosmos. Shamanism is an art and science concerned with using the healing powers of consciousness to effect change, health, and happiness. May you find inspiration and healing on your own shamanic journey.