After virtue, a study in moral theory

SPIRITUALLY INTEGRATED PSYCHOTHERAPY UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING THE SACRED. Kenneth Pargament, New York: Guilford, 2007. Pp. 384, Pb, $38.00. Kenneth Pargament begins this work by giving a brief rational for spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The rationale includes the importance of spirituality among many along with the desire to have this dimension included in the therapeutic relationship. Despite these preferences along with research linking healthy spirituality with greater health and a sense of well-being, however, many psychologists leave spirituality out of the conversation, whether due to feelings of uneasiness or lack of preparation from their schooling, which may cause them to be less than effective during treatment. This disconnect, Pargament argues, must be addressed. Part two begins by framing the spiritually integrated approach as one that can be used with a broad authence, including clients and therapists from "diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds" (p. 21). With this in mind Pargament defines spirituality as "the search for the sacred" (p. 32). This discussion is followed by a description of several sacred dimensions and qualities we, as humans, share (e.g., the search for significance, intimacy, etc.), ways individuals hold on to the sacred (e.g., prayer, ritual, relationships etc.), and how spiritual coping mechanisms may help in times of stress. While mainly outlining positive mechanisms Pargament clearly points out how spirituality can become misdirected for some people. This type of dis-integrated spirituality (e.g., lack of scope depth, inflexibility, misdirection etc.) can include the use of 'small gods' (gods limited in some way) and/or 'false gods' (idolatry), by clients, often with unpleasant end results. For those who make it through their spiritual struggles successfully, Pargament contends, a spiritual transformation (e.g., letting go, new purpose, centering of the sacred etc.) often takes place that leads to a well-integrated spirituality (e.g., openness to differences, willingness to engage in spiritual dialogue, sincere desire to share spiritual experiences). Part three, the largest section of the book, explores how to address the sacred as part of clinical practice. Pargament begins by clearly defining what spiritually integrated psychotherapy is: "an approach to treatment that acknowledges and addresses the spirituality of the client, the spirituality of the therapist, and the process of change" (p. 176); he also encourages timid practitioners not to be rejectionists of this aspect but rather gain knowledge, tolerance, and selfawareness which leads to greater authenticity regarding this topic. From here the author outlines various integration techniques, which can be used in a clinical context. Beginning with implicit assessment, (e.g., judicious self-disclosure, openness to discussions of spirituality etc.), the therapist desires to move the process to one where spirituality is expressed more explicitly (e. …

Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Understanding and Addressing The Sacred

The Code of Ethics for Nurses.

Purpose:Spirituality encompasses a wide range of meanings between holistic wellbeing and mysticism. We explored advanced cancer patients' spiritual experiences of transcendence.Methods:A total of 251 patients with advanced cancer were included and observed (participant observation) over 12 months by a psycho-oncologist/music-therapist. She recorded and documented patients' spontaneously expressed spiritual experiences during hospitalisation. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied.Results:135 patients communicated a spiritual experience, as expressed by altered body-awareness, less pain, less anxiety, higher acceptance of illness/death, new spiritual identity. Spiritual experiences were communicated by patients across different religious affiliations/attitudes. We identified types of spiritual experiences.Conclusion:The occurrence of spiritual experiences seems to be frequent and associated with profound, powerful reactions. Our results indicate that experienced-based spiritual care may compl...

Spiritual Experiences of Transcendence in Patients With Advanced Cancer

No wonder you activities are, reading will be always needed. It is not only to fulfil the duties that you need to finish in deadline time. Reading will encourage your mind and thoughts. Of course, reading will greatly develop your experiences about everything. Reading hospital chaplaincy in the twenty first century the crisis of spiritual care on the nhs explorations in practical pastoral and empirical theology is also a way as one of the collective books that gives many advantages. The advantages are not only for you, but for the other peoples with those meaningful benefits.

Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty‐First Century: The Crisis of Spiritual Care on the NHS

There is an undeniable relationship between spirituality and health, and taking a spiritual history is a simple way to increase the focus on spiritual care. This is a pre/posttest intervention study. Questionnaires were administered before implementation of a spiritual assessment (pretest, n = 106), and afterward (posttest, n = 103). Despite a difficult implementation process, the number of consultation requests for the Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care increased from 2 in the pretest period to 33 in the posttest period. After adjusting for patient characteristics, we found no differences between pretest and posttest measurements on the FACIT-Sp-12 total score or nurses' support regarding dealing with illness; we did, however, find a significant decrease on the subscale Faith of the FACIT-Sp-12 and on nurses' support regarding questions about purpose and meaning (97%-83%). In conclusion, taking a spiritual history may contribute to the spiritual care of patients in a general hospital in the shape of more frequent referrals to the spiritual caregiver (chaplain), but further research is needed to determine whether this also means that nurses provide less spiritual care.

Effects of Nurses' Screening of Spiritual Needs of Hospitalized Patients on Consultation and Perceived Nurses' Support and Patients' Spiritual Well-being.

Chaplaincy care has undergone a significant evolution in recent decades, and the end is not yet in sight. It has not always been a simple task to retain the essence of the profession during these changes. In order to gain insight into the core identity of spiritual care in the healthcare sector, we have analysed the journals of two leading professional associations, focusing on key issues, in order to allow the past to help us gain insight into the future. Our analysis of the Dutch journal Tijdschrift Geestelijke Verzorging (Journal for Spiritual Care) and the Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy has shown that, although both journals have converging views on several key issues, there are also significant differences. The observations have resulted in different recommendations for professionals of the two countries. To spiritual care professionals in Scotland, recommendations are made to increase the focus on multicultural spiritual care, while the value of evidence-based practice, and working in accordance with best practice, is brought to the attention of their Dutch colleagues.

Developments in Healthcare Chaplaincy in the Netherlands and Scotland: A Content Analysis of Professional Journals

Spirituality has become a popular term in chaplaincy and health care settings, but is defined in such a myriad of ways and in such broad terms that, as a term, it threatens to become unfit for clinical practice. Several prominent conceptualizations of spirituality are analyzed in an attempt to recover the distinctiveness of spirituality. An adequate understanding of spirituality for clinical use should run close to the lived spirituality of persons in their unique individuality, differing contexts and various persuasions. In the second place a distinct discourse on spirituality needs to be sensitive to characteristic experiences of that which is other.

Assessing the construction of spirituality: conceptualizing spirituality in health care settings.

The recent surge of case studies in chaplaincy care raises challenges on the comparability of case studies and the degree to which they elucidate the relation between theory and practice. The Dutch Case Studies Project (CSP) addresses these and other issues by use of a set format and procedure and by evaluation in research communities of chaplains and academic researchers. We first place CSP in the context of Dutch chaplaincy and its recent history. The question of selection of a case for a case study then leads to a discussion of a number of methodological issues. That moves into an explanation of the following steps in the procedure: description, evaluation and finalization. Issues for further discussion and a conclusion complete the article.

Dutch Case Studies Project in Chaplaincy Care: A Description and Theoretical Explanation of the Format and Procedures

A previous article focused on an analysis of prominent conceptualizations of spirituality in health care. The encompassing character of those approaches was viewed as problematic because too little attention is paid to the distinctiveness and particularities of spiritual experience. This article argues that the criteria gleaned from the prior analysis provide an impetus for a constructive discernment proposal of lived spirituality. The experience of otherness is provides a central clue to an understanding of spirituality particularly by two key terms, receptivity and transformation, as central characterizations of lived spirituality. These terms are investigated as they embrace operational potential for chaplaincy care. The article concludes with a reflection on chaplaincy care as it relates to spiritual practice.

Martin N. Walton

Papers

Effects of Nurses' Screening of Spiritual Needs of Hospitalized Patients on Consultation and Perceived Nurses' Support and Patients' Spiritual Well-being.

Developments in Healthcare Chaplaincy in the Netherlands and Scotland: A Content Analysis of Professional Journals

Assessing the construction of spirituality: conceptualizing spirituality in health care settings.

Dutch Case Studies Project in Chaplaincy Care: A Description and Theoretical Explanation of the Format and Procedures

Discerning Lived Spirituality: The Reception of Otherness: