Spiritual care in practice : case studies in healthcare chaplaincy

Foreword Introduction Part 1: Pediatric Case Studies Chapter 1. ‘God tells the doctors to pick the right medicine’ – LeeAnn, a 12-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis Chapter 2. ‘I can tell you this, but not everyone understands’ – Erica, mother of a 2-year-old girl with cancer Chapter 3. ‘Why did God do this to me?’ – Angela, a 17-year-old girl with spinal injury Chapter 4. Critical Response to Pediatric Case Studies: A Chaplain’s Perspective Chapter 5. Critical Response to Pediatric Case Studies: A Psychologist’s Perspective Part 2: Psychiatric Case Studies Chapter 6. ‘I am frightened to close my eyes at night in case the witch comes to me in my sleep’ – Yesuto, a Nigerian man in his early thirties troubled by his belief in witchcraft Chapter 7. ‘I tried to kill myself. Will God keep me apart from the person I love in the life-after?’ – June, a 78-year-old woman who attempted suicide Chapter 8. ‘My family wants me to see a priest. It can’t hurt, right?’ – Nate, a 20-year-old man and his sexual identity Chapter 9. Critical Response to Psychiatric Case Studies: A Chaplain/Psychologist’s Perspective Chapter 10. Critical Response to Psychiatric Case Studies: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective Part 3: Palliative Case Studies Chapter 11. ‘I need to do the right thing for him’ – Andrew, a Canadian veteran at the end of his life, and his daughter Lee Chapter 12. ‘What can you do for me?’ – David, a mid-sixties Jewish man with stage IV pancreatic cancer Chapter 13. ‘Tell her that it’s OK to release her spirit’ – Maria, a Native American woman, grieving the loss of her dying mother Chapter 14. Critical Response to Palliative Case Studies: A Chaplain’s Perspective Chapter 15. Critical Response to Palliative Case Studies: A Nurse’s Perspective Part 4: Ethical Concerns Chapter 16. Ethical Issues in Case Study Publicatio"

These diverse case studies make a compelling case for the importance of effective spiritual care in healthcare and provide unprecedented insight into the essential role of the chaplain within the healthcare team. Presented alongside critical reflections and responses from professionals within chaplaincy, psychology, psychiatry and nursing, they provide an honest and detailed look into how healthcare chaplains actually work with the people in their care and reveal the vital role of narrative and imagination in effective transformative practice. From a 16-year-old with a belief that God would enable a miraculous recovery from paralysis, to an African man with a history of psychosis and depression whose cultural belief in witches complicated his treatment, to a dying Jewish man, aggressive and isolated due to his traumatic life experiences, each case includes insight into the patient's needs and chaplain's perspectives, discussion of spiritual assessments and spiritual care interventions, and accounts of significant encounters and dialogues. The nine paediatric, psychiatric and palliative case studies and reflections in this ground-breaking book will enable chaplains to critically reflect on the spiritual care they provide and communicate their work more effectively, help healthcare professionals develop a clearer understanding of the care chaplains deliver, and provide an informed perspective for those who develop policy around spiritual care and need to make the case for chaplaincy services.