Deconstructing My Spiritual Struggles: An Autoethnography

Abstract

Spiritual and Religious struggles have the potential to negatively impact an individual struggling with doubts, frustrations with religious communities or existential questions. These struggles also have the opportunity to create an opportunity for positive growth, maturation and deeper self-awareness. This autoethnographic exploration explores my own spiritual and religious struggles that contributed to burning out from a career in professional ministry. Through identifying elements of conservative Evangelical culture that contributed to my burnout, I enter into a transformative reflection process that has resulted in positive growth. Through identifying and finding healing in these spiritual and religious struggles, I have been able to intentionally choose what personal characteristics and attitudes will guide my future clinical practice as a counsellor.