Rising from the Dead Stories of Women's Spiritual Journeys to Sobriety

Patricia Dorsey Nanoff, DMin, LICSW, is Associate Professor at the College of St. Catherine in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she teaches in the areas of theology and applied medical ethics. Rising from the Dead tells the recovery stories of alcoholic women who have maintained long-term sobriety with the help of 12-step spirituality. Their stories give hope to women still suffering from addiction and provide suggestions and strategies for helping professionals and pastoral counselors who aren't familiar with the 12-step recovery process.

Bridging the gap between spirituality and the recovering community, Rising from the Dead: Stories of Women’s Spiritual Journeys to Sobriety tells the stories of alcoholic women in long-term sobriety whose faith-based rehabilitation healed and transformed their lives. Using the format adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in telling their stories, each woman tells “how it was, what happened, and how it is now.” Their stories are first examined within the more secular models of treatment, and then in relation to theological categories and models. Illustrating the catastrophic nature of alcoholism as well as the hopeful path to recovery, this book offers a practical and valuable guide for professionals working in the Christian community to assist women suffering from addiction. Rising from the Dead describes the 12-step spiritual approach to treating addiction, and offers strategies for strengthening and developing the spiritual lives of those afflicted with this burden. This book examines the use of stories from a therapeutic and Christian perspective, and suggests models for therapeutic listening and counseling. It also covers narrative construction, issues with shame and guilt, threshold experiences, God language, and much more. An indispensable book on healing through communities of faith, Rising from the Dead: Stories of Women’s Spiritual Journeys to Sobriety is ideal for pastors, pastoral counselors, chaplains, parish nurses, and seminary faculty teaching in the area of addiction ministry.

Acknowledgments. PART I: WE COME TO TELL OUR STORY. Chapter 1. A Conversation in Ordinary Time. Chapter 2. Entering Sacred Space. PART II: WE COME TO BREAK THE BREAD. Chapter 3. From Story to Theory. Chapter 4. Descending into Hell: Shame and Guilt. PART III: WE COME TO KNOW OUR RISING FROM THE DEAD. Chapter 5. Standing Between Sin and Grace. Chapter 6. Navigating Within Traditions. Chapter 7. To Speak Rightly of God. Chapter 8. Radical Brokenness and Radical Relationship. Chapter 9. On the Road to Emmaus. Chapter 10. More Conversations in Ordinary Time. Appendix. The Twelve Steps. The Twelve Traditions. Notes. Index.

Patricia Dorsey Nanoff, DMin, LICSW, is Associate Professor at the College of St. Catherine in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she teaches in the areas of theology and applied medical ethics. Prior to her teaching career, she worked as a consultant and trainer in the areas of chemical dependency and family systems, and as a therapist in private practice. She has trained both nationally and internationally in the areas of alcoholism recovery, narrative construction, and spirituality of recovery.