Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Cheryl Anderson

Abstract

Health care leaders are challenged with addressing addiction and the treatment of addiction. Many studies have been conducted around addiction treatment; however, no studies have been conducted on Christian-based recovery programs that use the same approach regardless of the addiction. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of participants in a Christian-based recovery program that uses the same approach for all addictions. The social learning theory provided the framework for this study. Data were collected by interviewing participants of the Christian-based recovery program Free Grace Recovery (FGR). Eight participants selected had a variety of reasons for program participation from substance abuse, codependency issues, anger management problems, control issues, and sex addiction. The data were analyzed using MAXQDA software, coded by topic, and arranged into broader categories. Through that process, five central themes emerged from the data: spiritual religious experiences, program experiences, positive experiences with people, skills, acquisition experiences, and acts and services experiences. The implications for social change are that programs like FGR can be beneficial for many addictions, habits, and vices, and the need for program specialization may not be necessary because participants reported similar experiences despite having different addictions or other issues they were addressing. This would make recovery possible for a larger group of people.

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