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Caring for the Human Spirit: A Cooperative Approach to Whole-Person Care
Length: 3.0 Hours
Originally recorded live August 7, 2020
The definition of psyche in the Greek is not just the “mind,” but also the soul or spirit. Evidence shows that care for the human spirit, or “spiritual care,” has been shown to enhance compliance and a patient’s integration of therapeutic programming and skills. Evidence for this link will be shared, as well as research around best practices toward a team or cooperative approach to care. This session will aid a care provider in what they can contribute to a client or patient as a “generalist” in the spiritual care and mental health arena, while also looking to qualified specialists in the area of spiritual care to address particular needs and concerns. Key dynamics such as spiritual transference and countertransference, along with ethical principles, will highlight care offered within the spiritual dimensions of practice, attention, meaning and values. The presenters will use research to build on their combined 12 years of spiritual care in inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings within MHealth Fairview to describe methods for responding to spirituality throughout a patient’s healing.
Introductory: Assumes post-doctoral education status and limited familiarity with topic.
Objectives:
1. Describe the research behind using a whole-person model for patient coping, satisfaction, and recovery.
2. Articulate how the entire team can provide integrated generalist/brief spiritual care.
3. Explain ways that staff countertransference can inhibit the benefits of spiritual support.
4. Identify ethical issues in integrated spiritual care.
Rev. Adam James, D.Min., is a Mental Health Chaplain at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Pediatric Behavioral Health working for over five years primarily with adolescents suffering from co-occurring mental health and chemical dependency issues. Dr. James facilitates orientation and trainings for incoming students and staff on an ongoing basis with a focus on addressing spirituality in a patient’s mental health. He recently finished a Doctorate of Ministry, Mental Health Chaplaincy, at the Claremont School of Theology, in which he wrote a case study project to articulate the uniqueness of spiritual care in pediatric mental health settings.
The speaker has indicated they do not have any conflicts of interest.
Anna Kendig, M.Div., BCC, is a board-certified chaplain in the area of adult mental health and addiction who received the Masters of Divinity from the McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL. She is currently Lead Chaplain, Adult Behavioral Health, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, Minneapolis. An ordained Presbyterian (PC(USA) pastor and current moderator of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, she works to bridge the divide between “old school” models of spiritual care focused around prayer and personal comfort, and “new school” models focused around personal agency, practice, justice and community aspiration. She focuses on education, competence and curiosity as models for change in both healthcare and the wider community.
The speaker has indicated they do not have any conflicts of interest.
