University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2016 Navigating in Seclusion: The Complicated Terrain of Children’s Spirituality in Trauma, Grief and Loss Boynton, Heather Marie Boynton, H. M. (2016). Navigating in Seclusion: The Complicated Terrain of Children’s Spirituality in Trauma, Grief and Loss (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27063 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2997 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Navigating in Seclusion: The Complicated Terrain of Children’s Spirituality in Trauma, Grief, and Loss by Heather Marie Boynton A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN SOCIAL WORK CALGARY, ALBERTA FEBRUARY, 2016 © Heather Marie Boynton 2016 Abstract The topic of spirituality has become an important area of focus in social work; however, there is great disparity in the attention extended to preadolescent children’s spirituality. Research with older individuals has demonstrated that spirituality is an important and significant factor in trauma, grief, and loss (TGL). It can be a source of strength, nurturance, comfort, and support, and it is a resource for resiliency, coping, and posttraumatic growth. However, not much is known about children’s spirituality in the area of TGL. Therefore, this research study sought to investigate the processes, experiences, and understandings of children’s spirituality in TGL in outpatient counselling . This study employed a constructivist grounded theory methodology, which is helpful in understanding the interpretations, attributable meanings, and experiences of participants in areas that are complex and underexplored. Semi-structured interviews were employed with eighteen participants including six children, five parents, and seven clinicians at a counselling centre in Northwestern Ontario. Theoretical sampling and a constant comparative method of data analysis were conducted in regards to the interpretations of participant’s descriptions. The theoretical model that emerged was navigating in seclusion. Children in this study were found to have robust and complex spiritual lives with abundant spiritual experiences, relationships, activities, and practices. Spirituality was sparked and catapulted by TGL events, and children experienced spiritual struggles, engaged in spiritual questioning, increased their spiritual activities and practices, and entrusted spiritual relationships. However, spirituality was understood to be a weird phenomenon that was not socially validated or supported, and it was ii deemed to be taboo by the participants. Many challenges and processes were exposed, and the overall experience was found to be isolating. Previous research with preadolescent children has contributed to the nascent development of theoretical knowledge; however, many gaps in the literature remain. This study addresses the gap in the area of TGL, and advances our understanding of children’s spirituality in social work. The findings of this study are related to the literature, and contribute to, and extend the literature on TGL and children’s spirituality. The theoretical contributions, implications for practice and future research are discussed, and the limitations of the study are considered. Keywords: children, spirituality, trauma, grief, loss, social work iii Acknowledgements As I reflect upon this journey of my PhD I would describe it as a dialectical experience that was both incredible and arduous. I have appreciated the support from many existing relationships, and I have encountered so many wonderful new people and have valued the relationships that have developed during this time. There have been so many people who have contributed in numerous ways to this project and it is my intention to send gratitude and thanks to you in person, in writing, or in spirit. I would like to thank people at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary who played a significant role by participating in my course work and candidacy process. I would specifically like to thank those who participated on my candidacy and dissertation committees who generously contributed their time, offered their invaluable wisdom, and provided guidance through this process: Dr. John Graham, Dr. David Nicholas, Dr. Connie Barlow, Dr. Ed Rawana, Dr. Dan Wulff and Dr. Janet Rankin. I would especially like to thank Dr. John Graham for introducing himself to me at the Spirituality Conference in Waterloo and for providing supervisory mentorship throughout this process. He was very responsive and supported me through many trials and struggles and kept me moving forward. Dr. Connie Barlow offered amazing insights and expertise in the process, helped to guide me, and provided inspiration. I appreciated Dr. David Nicholas for joining midway through and providing great encouragement and wisdom and outstanding critical feedback. My relationship with Dr. Ed Rawana began over 25 years ago and he has continued to be a valued mentor and professor. I also wish to extend thanks to Dr. Christine Walsh in her role as graduate coordinator who provided gentle nudges and practical suggestions. Next, I would like to thank all of my friend’s and my incredible family who have stood by me throughout this time. My parents instilled the importance of education and the philosophy of life- iv long learning. They also provided highly valuable feedback and critical reflection on my work. I greatly wish to thank my husband Treacy for his unwavering patience, dedication, commitment and belief in me. He has taken care of me and the household which has been an incredible effort while I have been focused on school over many years. I would like to thank the management and ethics committee of the Children’s Mental Health Centre who allowed this project to take place, and the opportunity for me to pursue my educational dreams. I am grateful to all of the wonderful children who I have encountered in my career who were full of spirit and provided the impetus for this research. And a very special thank you goes out to the participants of this study who agreed to share their stories and experiences, who took a risk and opened up to vulnerability, and without whom this project would not have been viable. I hope that I have honoured your voices and that this will begin a dialogue and process to break down the stigma and barriers in order to validate and allow spirituality to hold a place of importance and respect. v Dedication I would like to dedicate this thesis to three people. First, I would like to dedicate it to my parents. My father Dr. Arthur Boynton died part way through my PhD studies but has remained in my heart, and his spirit continues to be felt. He was a great mentor who believed in me and let me know how proud he was of me that I was doing this work. My mother Marilyn Boynton believed that my topic was so very important and she spent time discussing spiritual aspects and insights with me. Both my parents spent many hours listening to and reading my work along the way and offering advice. They were very spiritually progressive allowing and wanting me to develop my own spiritual path and belief system as I grew up. I also wish to dedicate this work to my common law husband and life partner Treacy Harrison. This project would not have been possible without him, and he has offered his unwavering support and encouragement throughout the years. He believed in me even when I did not believe in myself, he helped me persevere when I wanted to quit, and he stood by me when I needed him most. He is definitely a soul mate. My heartfelt thanks cannot be expressed enough. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Navigating in Seclusion: The Complicated Terrain of Children’s Spirituality ...................1 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM ...............................................................................2 1.1.1 Spirituality and Social Work ...................................................................................3 1.1.2 Spirituality and Child Development. ......................................................................7 1.1.3 Spirituality and Children Research .........................................................................9 1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM ......................................................................10 1.3 OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY .......................................................13 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................................................15 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY.............................................................................15 1.6 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY ..........................................................................16 Chapter Two: Review of Literature ...................................................................................18 2.1 THE LITERATURE REVIEW METHODS ...............................................................19 2.2 SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE