Book excerpt: The importance of spiritual and religious frames of reference in making sense of and recovering from mental health difficulties is increasingly being recognized by mental health researchers. This book focuses on a variety of broad existential experiences. These are variously termed 'religious, 'spiritual', 'anomalous' 'extraordinary or exceptional experiences', or 'aberrant perceptions or beliefs' by researchers and health practitioners active in this field. In recognition of the burgeoning work in this area in recent years, this book brings together a broad range of approaches and perspectives to focus on an important set of topics that are important in demarcating this topic area. (Imprint: Nova)