Enhancing the spiritual development of adolescent girls

Professional School Counseling, June, 2004 by Mary Alice Bruce, Debbie Cockreham

In their Spiritual Wellness Model, Chandler, Holden, and Kolander (1992) constructed a model of spiritual wellness that can be incorporated into any stage of faith or spiritual development. The researchers believed wellness could be conceptualized as consisting of six major dimensions: intellectual, emotional, physical, social, occupation, and spiritual. Confrontation with life events can foster a shift in the direction of either spiritual emergence or repression of the spirit. The authors further postulated that a culture that fosters the development of the spiritual component as well as the personal component contributes to the likelihood that its members will achieve higher levels of wellness in all dimensions.

Finally, when looking at different spiritual development models, Harris (1989) offered insight into women's spiritual growth and development and offered ideas on how that can be fostered. Harris asserted that when women give themselves permission to be contemplative and attend to their own needs and be the women they were created to be, rather than what others expect them to be, they can be nourished in a way that nourishes their spirituality.

Considering the major spiritual models outlined above, Fowler (1991) and Genia (1990) characterized the spiritual development stage of adolescence as a time of questioning and doubt, a time of upheaval and intense uncertainty. Both authors realized the need for adolescents to be supported as they question what they believe.

Chandler et al. (1992) stressed the need for spiritual balance and wellness at any stage of spiritual development. They pointed out that such spiritual imbalance can occur, and only by learning to achieve a balance during the different events and stages of life can an individual progress to higher levels of spiritual development.

Harris's (1989) concepts correlated with Fowler (1991) and Genia (1990) in that all authors stressed the need for adolescents to forge their own identity and beliefs in the process of developing spiritually. Harris added to the female's developmental process by not only addressing the need for a secure identity, but by also stressing the need for females to learn to appreciate, nourish, and utilize a unique identity.

CREATING A SUCCESSFUL SPIRITUAL GROUP EXPERIENCE FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Drawing upon the cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development theories of adolescent females and integrating the spiritual development models of Harris (1989), Fowler (1981, 1991), and Genia (1990), the authors offer that the purpose for the spiritual group experience is to enable the adolescent female to become more fully aware of the spiritual aspect of her rife. This includes her willingness to seek meaning and purpose in human existence, to wonder about the underlying meaning of events, and to appreciate the synchronicities which cannot be logically explained or readily understood (Opatz, 1986). The suggested activities and targeted outcomes of this group experience program are meant to serve as a step in the spiritual journey that can enhance the awareness of the spiritual aspects of life rather than a comprehensive guide for spiritual development. Ideally, the 12-session program, as a part of a comprehensive school counseling program, consists of a one and a half hour weekly group experience with 8 to 10 girls who have expressed interest in personal growth. The purpose of the spiritual program encompasses four goals: (1) Discovering the authentic self, to include purposeful meaning in life, (2) Defining relationships and boundaries (3) Managing pain experienced in life, and (4) Discovering, appreciating and utilizing unique gifts.