Attachment and Spiritual Coping: Theory and Practice With Older Adults

Many older adults may reference God as both a source of helpful and harmful interactions in their lives. Attachment theory may be a useful lens for (a) assessment of older adults' relational style to a Transcendent Other with implications for formulating future interactions; (b) understanding how attachment to God facilitates coping; and (c) viewing attachment to God as a mechanism for regulating emotional overload. This article provides a practice framework for integrating spirituality into practice with older adults and encourages an individualized, culturally sensitive approach that allows helping professionals to enter into clients' worldviews without necessarily subscribing to the same worldview themselves.