Orthodox Pastoral Approach in Caring forpeople with addictions and their families

Abstract

Fr. Georgi Hristov Fotakiev, Orthodox Pastoral Approach in Caring for people with addictions and their families. The paper explores the connection between the nature of family relationships and getting into substance abuse disorder both from a pastoral Orthodox and psychological perspective. Dysfunctional family relationships are a major cause of falling into addiction. The paper studies a number of today’s family problems, using the approach of modern Orthodox theology and psychotherapy to uncover their spiritual dimensions and to back up some key elements in the Orthodox pastoral and liturgical approach to support substance abuse users. Distinctive to this approach is to provide spiritual support both to the addict and his or her relatives.