Screening for Spiritual Emergence
A practical mini-course for anyone to use to screen for spiritual emergence in themselves or others. Especially useful for clinicians.
Applies to Level 2 Certification
This course is part of the Level 2 Spiritual Emergence Coach® Certification. You can take this course individually or as part of the complete certification bundle. Upon completion, this course will count toward your Level 2 certification requirements.
About this course
This mini-course is available now and can be reviewed anytime, indefinitely. It offers a simple, accessible introduction to a topic that remains largely overlooked in mainstream training, while giving you a practical tool you can begin using right away. The screening tool we give will help you identify common signs of spiritual emergence in clinical, coaching, and supportive care settings, including families. It also offers suggestions for verbal prompts to elicit discussion and insight into the experiences individuals are having.
Early recognition of spiritual emergence is essential for providing appropriate support and reducing the risk of misdiagnosis or mistreatment regarding these experiences. Yet most healthcare providers are never taught how to screen for spiritual emergence in graduate school, leaving many without the tools or framework to recognize when a client may be moving through an awakening.
Learning Objectives
Use the practical screening tool to identify possible signs of spiritual emergence
Recognize gaps in traditional clinical frameworks for understanding spiritual experiences
Better distinguish awakening-related phenomena from experiences that may be misread or mislabeled
Approach clients and loved ones with greater clarity, discernment, and support.
Syllabus
Screening for Spiritual Emergence
(2 min video) Welcome!- (2 min read): Our Direction in this Mini-Course
- (5 minute read) A Screening Tool — Identifiying Spiritual Emergence or Emergency
- (2 min read) Ways of Using the Screening Tool
- (10 min read) Optional — More Resources
Your Instructor
Emma Bragdon, PhD
Dr. Emma Bragdon is a pioneer in body–mind–spirit wellness with 50 years of experience in integrative approaches to mental health, healing, and human development. She has written seven books, co-produced two documentary films, and has taught experiential learning for adults since 1985. Emma volunteered with the Spiritual Emergence Network (SEN) for seven years, editing their journal and coordinating conferences at Esalen Institute with founders Stanislav and Christina Grof. Her PhD dissertation, "How to Support Someone in Spiritual Emergency," launched a lifelong specialization in this field. From 2001–2012, she conducted field research at Spiritist Community Centers and Psychiatric Hospitals in Brazil, studying their 120-year-old model of integrative care. Since 2012, she has served as "ambassador" to non-Brazilians for the Spiritist Psychiatric Hospital in Goiânia, Brazil, facilitating seminars for health professionals worldwide.
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