Date

8-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Sharita Knobloch

Keywords

Resilience, Religion and Spirituality, Addiction, Recovery

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

Substance use disorder (SUD) continues to be a pressing public health crisis in the United States, marked by complex mental, physical, and spiritual consequences. While evidence-based treatments are well developed, relapse rates remain high, highlighting the need for integrative models that incorporate spiritual and psychological resilience. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study described individuals recovering from SUDs’ experiences sustaining long-term sobriety in the Southeastern United States within a 100-mile radius of a metropolitan city as well as understand how spirituality and resilience interact to sustain sobriety and encourage personal transformation. Guided by resilience theory and framed within a constructivist-phenomenological paradigm, the research addressed the central question: How do individuals recovering from SUDs describe their experiences sustaining long-term sobriety? Semi-structured interviews were used to capture 10 participants’ perspectives on the use of faith-based practices, including prayer and participation in spiritual recovery programs. Moustakas’s phenomenological methods were applied to identify shared themes related to emotional regulation and community belonging. Findings revealed that spirituality served as both a coping mechanism and a catalyst for resilience, providing participants with purpose, hope, and enduring internal strength. Participants described resilience as a dynamic process developed through spiritual connection, social engagement, and sustained reflection. This study’s implications suggested that integrating spiritual practices into clinical frameworks can enhance long-term recovery outcomes. By merging evidence-based and faith-informed approaches, clinicians and community leaders can encourage holistic care that promotes healing, belonging, and sustainable recovery across diverse populations.

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