Spiritual Care in Psychological Suffering

Spiritual Care in Psychological Suffering
Author: Alexis D. Abernethy
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2023-01-09
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 179364568X

Spiritual Care in Psychological Suffering: How a Research Collaboration Informs Integrative Practice highlights spiritually integrative research and demonstrates the evolution of a national partnership of psychologists and chaplains collaborating for optimal results. Interdisciplinary teams are the gold standard in spiritual care provision, and this book orients the purpose and promise of such collaboration for research and practice. Recent work in the psychology of religion and spirituality has emphasized the importance of relational spirituality, distinctions between harmful and helpful effects of religion and spirituality on mental health, and the relevance of spiritual struggles for psychological well-being; however, these dimensions have not been examined in the context of a collaborative and culturally diverse partnership, nor have they been comprehensively examined in psychologically distressed populations. This volume seeks to make an important contribution to the psychology of religion by providing an in-depth look at translating integrative research into integrative practice in a population that has experienced significant psychological suffering. It is hoped that insights from this volume will contribute the following: foster more rewarding chaplain-researcher partnerships; offer a deeper understanding of the intersections among spiritual experience, virtues, and psychological distress; and demonstrate approaches for inquiring about individuals’ spiritual lives in the midst of psychological suffering.

Making Health Care Whole

Making Health Care Whole
Author: Christina Puchalski
Publisher: Templeton Foundation Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2011-06-01
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1599473712

In the last fifteen years, the field of palliative care has experienced a surge in interest in spirituality as an important aspect of caring for seriously ill and dying patients. While spirituality has been generally recognized as an essential dimension of palliative care, uniformity of spiritual care practice has been lacking across health care settings due to factors like varying understandings and definitions of spirituality, lack of resources and practical tools, and limited professional education and training in spiritual care. In order to address these shortcomings, more than forty spiritual and palliative care experts gathered for a national conference to discuss guidelines for incorporating spirituality into palliative care. Their consensus findings form the basis of Making Health Care Whole. This important new resource provides much-needed definitions and charts a common language for addressing spiritual care across the disciplines of medicine, nursing, social work, chaplaincy, psychology, and other groups. It presents models of spiritual care that are broad and inclusive, and provides tools for screening, assessment, care planning, and interventions. This book also advocates a team approach to spiritual care, and specifies the roles of each professional on the team. Serving as both a scholarly review of the field as well as a practical resource with specific recommendations to improve spiritual care in clinical practice, Making Health Care Whole will benefit hospices and palliative care programs in hospitals, home care services, and long-term care services. It will also be a valuable addition to the curriculum at seminaries, schools of theology, and medical and nursing schools.

Relational Spirituality in Psychotherapy

Relational Spirituality in Psychotherapy
Author: Steven J. Sandage
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Total Pages:
Release: 2020
Genre: Interpersonal relations
ISBN: 9781433831782

"Spiritual and existential struggles tell a story about the quality of clients' lives, beyond what clinicians can learn from their mental health symptoms alone. This book presents the Relational Spirituality Model (RSM) of psychotherapy, a creative clinical process that engages existential themes to help people make sense of profound suffering or trauma. To promote healing and growth, practitioners using the RSM provide a secure and challenging therapeutic space, while guiding clients as they explore ways of relating to the sacred in their lives. In this model, therapeutic change is seen as an intense yet safe process of movement and tension between dwelling and seeking, stability and disruption. Assessment and intervention strategies focus on developmental systems-attachment, differentiation, and intersubjectivity-to restructure relationships with the self, others, and the sacred. In depth clinical case examples demonstrate how to respect diverse client perspectives on suffering and trauma, and apply the RSM in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. Readers will find new ways of working within the spiritual, existential, religious, and theological concerns that infuse their clients' struggles and triumphs"--

The Courage to Suffer

The Courage to Suffer
Author: Daryl R. Van Tongeren
Publisher: Templeton Foundation Press
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2020-02-27
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1599475243

Suffering is an inescapable part of life. Some suffering is so profound, so violating, or so dogged that it fundamentally changes people in indelible ways. Many existing therapeutic approaches, from a medical model, treat suffering as mental illness and seek a curative solution. However, such approaches often fail to examine the deep questions that suffering elicits (e.g., existential themes of death, isolation, freedom, identity, and meaninglessness) and the far-reaching ways in which suffering affects the lived experience of each individual. In The Courage to Suffer, Daryl and Sara Van Tongeren introduce a new therapeutic framework that helps people flourish in the midst of suffering by cultivating meaning. Drawing from scientific research, clinical examples, existential and positive psychology, and their own personal stories of loss and sorrow, Daryl and Sara’s integrative model blends the rich depth of existential clinical approaches with the growth focus of strengths-based approaches.Through cutting edge-research and clinical case examples, they detail five “phases of suffering” and how to work with a client's existential concerns at each phase to develop meaning. They also discuss how current research suggests to build a flourishing life, especially for those who have endured, and are enduring, suffering. Daryl and Sara show how those afflicted with suffering, while acknowledging the reality of their pain, can still choose to live with hope.

Handbook of Religion and Health

Handbook of Religion and Health
Author: Harold G. Koenig
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 1113
Release: 2023-05-12
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0190088850

"The 2001 edition (1st) was a comprehensive review of history, research, and discussions on religion and health through the year 2000. The Appendix listed 1,200 separate quantitative studies on religion and health each rated in quality on 0-10 scale, followed by about 2,000 references and an extensive index for rapid topic identification. The 2012 edition (2nd) of the Handbook systematically updated the research from 2000 to 2010, with the number of quantitative studies then reaching the thousands. This 2022 edition (3rd) is the most scientifically rigorous addition to date, covering the best research published through 2021 with an emphasis on prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. Beginning with a Foreword by Dr. Howard K. Koh, former US Assistant Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services, this nearly 600,000-word volume examines almost every aspect of health, reviewing past and more recent research on the relationship between religion and health outcomes. Furthermore, nearly all of its 34 chapters conclude with clinical and community applications making this text relevant to both health care professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, counsellors, psychologists, sociologists, etc.) and clergy (community clergy, chaplains, pastoral counsellors, etc.). The book's extensive Appendix focuses on the best studies, describing each study in a single line, allowing researchers to quickly locate the existing research. It should not be surprising that for Handbook for the past two decades has been the most cited of all references on religion and health"--

Care for the Mental and Spiritual Health of Black Men

Care for the Mental and Spiritual Health of Black Men
Author: Nicholas Grier
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2019-11-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1498567134

Black men need hope to survive and, ultimately, flourish. As mental health is a critical but often neglected issue, especially among Black men, Care for the Mental and Spiritual Health of Black Men examines that sensitive topic in conjunction with reflections on race, gender, sexuality, and class to offer a hopeful and constructive framework for care and counseling, particularly for Black men. These are not separate from spiritual health and growth, as well, but both are integral to holistic, dynamic wellbeing. In this, the author provides a careful and critical analysis of spiritual hope and healing as ingredient to individual and communal flourishing. As such, this volume will be a vital resource for health practitioners, spiritual caregivers, and providers in community care who serve to bolster the mental wellbeing of Black men.

ACT for Clergy and Pastoral Counselors

ACT for Clergy and Pastoral Counselors
Author: Jason A. Nieuwsma
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
Total Pages: 502
Release: 2016-07-01
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1626253234

For the first time ever, three pioneers in the field of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) present an edited volume that outlines how the core ACT processes can be applied to religious and spiritual care approaches. If you are a clergy leader or pastoral counselor, people struggling with difficult situations or life traumas frequently turn to you for guidance. And while you’re passionate about helping, you may be unprepared for counseling people with certain mental health challenges. On the other hand, if you are a psychotherapist, you may need guidance in supporting your client’s religious belief system in therapy. In either case, this book presents a powerful road map to help you provide the best care. In this book, you’ll find a complete overview of ACT, as well as strategies for integrating ACT and issues related to spirituality. You’ll also learn how the core processes of ACT—such as commitment to change and values-based living—can be seamlessly tied into spiritual and religious counseling, no matter your faith or therapeutic background. By teaching you how to fuse conceptual psychological and spiritual principles, this book will provide you with the tools needed to enhance your counseling skill set.

Madness and Grace

Madness and Grace
Author: Matthew Stanford
Publisher: Templeton Foundation Press
Total Pages: 217
Release: 2021-06-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1599475804

Research tells us that when most people suffer from a mental health crisis, the first person they turn to for help is not a physician, a psychiatrist, or a social worker, but a pastor, a priest, or a minister. In other words, a leader in their church. Unfortunately, many church leaders are not trained to recognize mental illness and don’t know when to refer someone to a mental health professional. The consequence—unintended yet tragic—is continued and unnecessary suffering. Madness and Grace is a comprehensive guide for church ministry to alleviate this situation. Written by Dr. Matthew Stanford, the book is carefully constructed to help build competency in detecting a wide spectrum of mental disorders, such as knowing when a person is contemplating suicide based on telltale patterns of speech. It also explodes common discriminatory myths that stigmatize people with mental illness, such as the myth that they are more prone to violence than others. Dr. Stanford has treated clients throughout his career who were afflicted with all manner of mental disorders. In Madness and Grace, he takes the full extent of his experience and makes it accessible and actionable for the lay reader. He begins by explaining what constitutes a mental illness and how these disorders are classified according to science. He next teaches how to notice the presence of a mental illness by listening carefully to phraseology, observing behavior, and asking discerning questions. He goes on to discuss methods of treatment, common religious concerns about mental health, and ways church communities can support people on the road to recovery. As a Christian, Dr. Stanford wants his fellow believers to know that acknowledging and seeking help for a mental illness is not a sign of weak faith. That’s why, in addition to sharing his medical expertise with church leaders, he commends pertinent biblical passages that underscore God’s concern for our mental wellbeing. These passages provide strength and comfort as complements to clinically-derived treatment and are essential to Dr. Stanford’s approach. “When working with those in severe psychological distress,” he writes, “compassion and grace are always the first line of pastoral care.”

Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia

Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia
Author: Larry Van De Creek
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 117
Release: 2015-12-22
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1317789768

Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia explores spirituality in those with dementia to enrich our understanding of the neurological and psychological aspects of hope, prayer, and the power of belief. You will discover how your ministry is vitally relevant to the clinical well-being and quality of life of people with Alzheimer's disease. Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia provides you with a model spiritual care program for long-term facilities that supplies you with ideas you can implement in your own ministry.You will learn to avoid cognitive pastoral care method that can be hurtful to those suffering with dementia by using new approaches found in Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia. This book provides you with suggestions about how to spiritually care for people with dementia. These important recommendations include: understanding the value of pastoral contact when ministering to people with a loss of cognitive functions and memory discovering the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold psychosocial model (PLST) that can make important contributions by enhancing the quality of life for people with dementia providing pastoral care using nonverbal methods to overcome the barriers of cognitive dysfunction exploring a client's cognitive and emotional reality on a daily basis to determine how to best interact with him or her gaining insight into how a thorough analysis of the illness and personal religious history can assist in planning religious activities that provide comfort and solace for people with dementia and their familiesSpiritual Care for Persons with Dementia describes religious, theological, and psychodynamic perspectives that will help you to offer better spiritual care for people with dementia. Using your newly acquired skills from Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia, you will be more effective when ministering to people with Alzheimer's Disease and to their families.

Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care

Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care
Author: Joanne Wolfe
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 625
Release: 2022-01-11
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0190090030

Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care provides a uniquely integrated, comprehensive resource about palliative care for seriously ill children and their families. The field of palliative care is based on the fundamental principle that an interdisciplinary team is optimal in caring for patients and their families throughout the illness trajectory. The text integrates themes including goals of care, discipline-specific roles, cultural and spiritual considerations, evidence-based outcomes, and far more. It emphasizes the value of words and high-quality communication in palliative care. Importantly, content acknowledges challenging periods between team members, and how those can ultimately benefit team, patient, and family care outcomes. Each chapter includes the perspective of the family of a seriously ill child in the form of a vignette to promote care team understanding of this crucial perspective. This second edition is founded on a wealth of evidence that reflects the innovations in pediatric palliative care science over the past 10 years, including initiatives in clinical care, research, and education. Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care is appropriate for all pediatric palliative clinicians (PPC), including physicians, nurses, psychosocial clinicians, chaplains, and many others. All subspecialists who deliver care to seriously ill children, will find this book a must-have for their work. Advance Praise for Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care, Second Edition "This new edition is as much a testament to pediatric palliative care's remarkable evolution as a field as it is a quintessential playbook for providing the high-quality holistic and compassionate care that families with seriously ill children desperately want. Every page thoughtfully weaves together how interprofessional teams can contribute collaboratively to learning about and supporting the preferences, needs and priorities of the precious patients and families in their circle of care. It is a must read for all practitioners to enhance their palliative care understanding, appreciation and ability as a foundation for optimizing quality of life in practice." - Rebecca Kirch, JD, Executive Vice President of Policy and Programs, National Patient Advocate Foundation "This book offers a truly contemporary and comprehensive view of the entire field of pediatric palliative care. The focus on social determinants of health, cultural humility, and disparities in care could not be timelier, and the section highlighting conflict and conflict resolution should be required reading. The continued and purposeful inclusion of interdisciplinary clinicians in producing each chapter models the palliative care team itself-an approach in which all voices are necessary as we seek to provide the most compassionate care possible." - Rachel Thienprayoon, MD, MSCS, FAAP, FAAHPM, Associate Professor of Anesthesia, Medical Director, StarShine Hospice and Palliative Care, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center