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Why
I created this course
My interest
in spirituality and mental health dates back to 1971,
when I spent 2 months in a spiritual crisis--convinced
that I was a reincarnation of Buddha and Christ with
a messianic mission to save the world. In my clinical
practice as a psychologist and my work with the Spiritual
Emergence Network for the past 25 years, I have
often found myself face-to-face with individuals with
the same beliefs. By giving me a rare opportunity to
go through the complete cycle and phenomenology of
a naturally-resolving psychotic episode, my spiritual
emergency was a valuable clinical experience as well
as a spiritual awakening! In 1994 my work in this area
came to fruition when the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) included
a category entitled Religious or Spiritual Problem (V62.89)
of which I was a co-author. My personal objective in
developing this course is to help people survive the
perils of the spiritual path and reap the benefits
of a consciously lived spiritual life.
Course
Description
The inclusion
in the DSM-IV of a new diagnostic category called "Religious
or Spiritual Problem" marks a significant breakthrough. For the first
time, there is acknowledgment of distressing religious and spiritual
experiences as nonpathological problems. This course is designed to
teach mental health professionals about the process of its acceptance,
its definition, various types of religious and spiritual problems,
differential diagnosis, and treatment of these problems. Online resources
are used throughout so that participants are equipped to keep up with
new findings and developments through the Internet.
Course
Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be more culturally
competent in treating religious and spiritual problems. Specifically,
you will be able to:
1)
discuss the background, history and rationale for
the new diagnostic category, Religious or Spiritual
Problem
2) describe the main types of religious and spiritual problems
3) differentiate religious and spiritual problems from psychopathology
4) choose more effective treatment modalities for religious and spiritual
problems
Instructions
for Taking This Course
The lessons
for this course are online. For ease of later access,
bookmark the Course Home Page, although you can always
access it from the SCRC homepage.
Each
lesson opens into a new window, so when you are finished
with a lesson, just close that window. The Course
Homepage will still be there.
Or
you can move to the next lesson by clicking on the
Next Lesson link at the bottom of each lesson page,
or the lesson links at the top of each lesson page.
Each
link also opens into a new window, so when you are
finished with visiting a site, close that window
and you will return to the lesson. .
Most
of the time you will be visiting sites on the World
Wide Web, a part of the Internet. Thus you will need
to have online access most of the time during the
course. You can print the lessons out for even easier
reading off-line, and then go back online to visit
the links. None of the sites in this course charge
for using their resources.
Course Links
| RESOURCE KEY: |
Audio |
 |
Website |
 |
Document |
 |
Quiz |
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>Four types of links are used in the course.
 The
links marked with the this icon are required for
CE credit. Some are Quiz items and some are Quest
Search exercises which require finding a specific
piece of information or type of resource. The Webquest is a popular
method for teaching Internet skills in k-12 settings.
I have adapted that approach because it is congruent
with my commitment to a constructivist approach to
education that fosters learning by doing. Note that
only 75% of the Quiz and Quest Search exercises need
to be completed correctly so if you have difficulty
locating one of the resources, just go on to the
next Quiz or Quest item.
The
Globe, the Speaker, and the Book represent different
types of resources that are also part of the course.
Look them over although they do not involve quiz
or quest exercises.
The
links that are underlined in the body of the text
are there as references if you want to check them
out, such as the link to Webquest.
>Approvals
Internet
Guided Learning has approvals from:
 California Board of Behavioral Sciences
California Board of Registered Nursing
Instructions
for CE credit
Collecting
CE requires filling out the CE Quiz Form and paying the tuition fee
of $89. You can register and fill out the Online
CE Quiz Form (includes a secure form for credit card payment).
Most people prefer to print
out this form and fill it in as they work their way through the course.
Then complete the form online or mail or fax it to Internet Guided
Learning (instructions are on the form). Include the tuition fee of
$89 by check or credit card number. Your
certificate awarding 8 hours of CE will be e-mailed to you. >Help
with the Course
You
can contact the instructor, Dr. David Lukoff, via email or by toll-free phone at 888.880.2870.
Software
and Equipment Needed
You only
need to have access to a computer with Internet service
and a browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet
Explorer (which you probably have to be reading this!)
Public libraries usually offer free access to the Internet.
Cost & Refund
Policy
This course
is free to preview. If prepayment is made, then a full
refund is available at any point for any reason up
until CE is awarded. Full refund is also available
if your state board does not accept the type of CE
that SCRC awards. Contact the instructor,
Dr. David Lukoff, via email or by phone at 888.880.2870 to request
a re fund.
>Difficulties
Can't
get to a link
The server for that site may temporarily be experiencing problems.
If a link doesn't work, skip it and come back to it later. The site
will probably be back up. Occasionally a site used in this course may
have been taken down. Availability of links is checked regularly. If
you have persisting trouble accessing a site, please notify the instructor.
It takes a long time for web site to appear
The World Wide Web has also been called the World Wide Wait. If you
are using a slow speed modem (28k or less), or an older computer with
a slow processor, web pages can take one or more minutes to appear.
I have the late model Apple G4 Macintosh with a cable modem, and this
combination brings up most web pages in a few seconds. But cable modems
and DSL high speed lines typically cost $40-50 per month, more than
twice what most Internet Service Providers charge. Many universities
and libraries provide high speed access. Web pages do come up sooner
when they are revisited because parts of the page are saved in a "cache" on
your hard disk.
Course
Outline and Suggested Times
There
is some flexibility as to how to spend your time. The
expectation is that you will spend 8 hours total on
this course.
Introduction
to Course-15 minutes
- Background
of DSM-IV Category-60
minutes
- Religious Problems-60 minutes
- Lesson 2.1 Religious Problems
- Lesson 2.2 Loss or questioning of faith
- Lesson 2.3 Changes in membership, practices
and beliefs
- Lesson 2.4 New Religious Movements and Cults
- Lesson 2.5 Terminal and life-threatening
illness
- Spiritual Problems-90 minutes
- Lesson 3.1 Spiritual Emergence
- Lesson 3.2 Spiritual Problems
- Lesson 3.3 Mystical experiences
- Lesson 3.4 Near-death experiences
- Lesson 3.5 Meditation & Spiritual
Practice
- Lesson 3.6 Psychic experiences
- Lesson 3.7 Visionary Experiences
- Lesson 3.8 Shamanic experiences
- Lesson 3.9 Alien Encounter Experiences
- Lesson 3.10
Possession experiences
- Co-Ocurrence with Mental Disorders-60
minutes
- Differential Diagnosis-60
minutes
- Therapeutic Interventions-60 minutes
- Lesson 6.1 Spiritual Crises
- Lesson 6.2 Psychotherapy
- VII Online Resources-60
minutes
- Lesson 7.1 Online Resources
- Lesson 7.2 Searching
Medline
Filling
out Continuing Education Quiz and Quest Search
Exercises, and Evaluation Forms
15 minutes
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