A phenomenology of spiritual bypass: Causes, consequences, and implications. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018) - Picciotto, Gabriela
ABSTRACT: Spirituality is a fundamental dimension of wellness. However, scholars have noted that not all spiritual processes are healthy. One of those processes is spiritual bypass, defined as a defensive psychological posture cultivated by a tendency to privilege spiritual beliefs or experiences over and against psychological needs creating a means of avoiding or bypassing difficult emotions or experiences. This study's purpose was to explore the phenomenology of spiritual bypass through eight, semi-structured interviews. The results of the phenomenology yielded 48 codes clustered into 10 categories, two broader themes and one stand-alone category. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.