Search Results (64)

This article describes the design and implementation of a Specialized Mental Health Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program for clergy and theological students of all spiritual, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Addressing the need for mental health competencies in religious leaders and chaplains, this training equips participants with specialized skills in individual and group mental health spiritual assessment and spiritual care. Program participants become effective members of a multiprofessional team, gain knowledge of mental health philosophies of concordant and discordant spiritual orienting systems, and gain greater relational capacity. The Mental Health CPE Program includes traditional and novel CPE elements: (1) clinical practice, (2) group and individual supervision, (3) didactic presentations and journal clubs, (4) verbatim (Protocols of patient encounters) and case presentations, (5) group leadership training and practica, and (6) experience of faith reflections. This article provides insights into the origins of CPE, a description of the implementation in a free-standing psychiatric hospital, and observed developmental changes of program participants. We include graduates’ anecdotal feedback about their learning experience and its impact on their leadership in chaplaincy and in religious communities. Additionally, we report on areas for future development and further study of the effectiveness of Mental Health CPE. Full article

This study examines the exercise of religious freedom within the Polish penitentiary system, focusing on the intersection of legal frameworks, religious pluralism, and secularization. While Poland’s Constitution and penal legislation guarantee inmates the right to practice their faith, the practical implementation of this right faces systemic challenges. This research draws on legal analysis, demographic data, and existing empirical studies to assess how pastoral care operates in prisons. The findings reveal that although the prison system is formally open to various denominations, access to non-Catholic chaplaincy is often limited and misaligned with the evolving religious composition of the inmate population, especially following increased immigration. The number of chaplains and volunteers remains low relative to the needs of inmates, and pastoral services vary widely across regions. Despite these issues, religious involvement is shown to support rehabilitation by fostering moral development and reducing recidivism. This study concludes that a more inclusive, pluralistic, and flexible approach to prison ministry—one that accounts for both declining religiosity and growing diversity—is essential. Chaplaincy must adapt not only as a provider of religious rites but also as a facilitator of ethical reflection, emotional support, and reintegration into a secular and pluralistic society. Full article

Outcome research is becoming increasingly important in chaplaincy. However, current outcome measures rarely reflect outcomes reflecting chaplaincy goals. This limits the understanding of the effect of chaplaincy care. Therefore, we have developed the Dutch Chaplaincy Outcome Measure (NUGV). It uses a Q-methodology, comprising a two-step sorting task of 25 statements and a brief post-sorting interview. The statements relate to four goals of chaplaincy: worldview development, coping with life events and circumstances, relational affirmation, and transcendence and connectedness. The statements were derived from a literature review, interviews with 24 clients of chaplaincy in primary, outpatient, or community care, and eight focus groups with clients, chaplaincy, and other professionals in primary, outpatient, or community care. Acceptability, clarity, and (face) validity were examined with a client council, in a workshop, and through two pilot studies. They were found to be satisfactory. Thus, the NUGV seems to be a promising instrument for outcome assessment in chaplaincy. More research is needed on the construct validity and specificity of the outcomes, as well as the use of the instrument in inpatient settings and among people with lower language and cognitive capabilities. We recommend that researchers administer the NUGV in person, to enable more support during the sorting task and to facilitate richer data in the post-sorting interview. Full article

As part of an industry-based research partnership, the research team were asked to recommend a measure of spiritual wellbeing to assess client spiritual health and wellbeing and to determine programme efficacy. Existing measures were determined to be unsuitable for various reasons, including use in a multi-faith environment. The researchers developed a new Spiritual Wellbeing Scale, extending Fisher’s four domains to six distinct domains. For theoretical reasons, this tool assesses both importance and state. This paper introduces the instrument and assesses its psychometric properties. The assessments show the instrument to be both valid and reliable for a diverse population. Full article

Suicide is a significant public health issue and a leading cause of death amongst those aged 15 to 29, making it particularly relevant in the university context, where many students fall within this age range. Universities are motivated to promote student wellbeing, as it is closely linked to academic achievement and overall satisfaction with the university experience. University chaplains play a vital role on campuses, providing spiritual care to the entire university community. Whilst their contributions to suicide prevention are acknowledged, there is a notable lack of explicit research in this area. This paper presents the results of an online multimethod questionnaire on the self-reported contributions of university chaplains to suicide prevention, involving 50 participants working in 16 different countries. The findings indicate that university chaplains self-report contributing to all three levels of the suicide prevention framework: prevention, intervention, and postvention, with prevention being the area where they feel they contribute most. This paper also explores the wellbeing practices of university chaplains, key elements of university chaplaincy, and various aspects of the professionalisation of university chaplaincy. Full article

Meaning in life is often at stake in patients with personality disorder (PD) and associated with a lack of self-direction. Meaning in life, including religion and spirituality, seems to contain facets within personality and facets independent of personality and might change during treatment. The sample included patients with PD (pre-treatment n = 125, post-treatment n = 85) and a control group (n = 69). To clarify (changes in) facets of meaning in life, open interview questions on meaning, meaninglessness, recovery, and supportive resources were subjected to a qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results show that significant others are the primary, most important source of meaning in life and support for PD patients and controls. Negative feelings, feelings of loss, and a psychiatric disorder are the three most frequent “causes” of meaninglessness in patients, stressing the importance of therapy to treat these issues. In the PD group, pets are a relevant source of meaning in life. Treatment is likely to contribute to the restoration of meaning in life. Here, addressing interpersonal functioning represents a key element, probably by improving connectedness with loved ones. Full article

This paper analyzes the work of chaplaincy and spiritual care from the perspective of care recipients. Chaplains call their work a “ministry of presence,” a term of art that is often unclear to many who are not chaplains. How else might we conceptualize “presence” in order to ground it in the social science literature? Using sociological theory, we show that care recipients may experience a chaplain’s work as emotional labor, specifically “other-focused emotional labor.” Based on in-depth interviews with a sample of 38 care recipients, we find recipients feeling reassured by the chaplain; being offered support and help by the chaplain; and not feeling judged by the chaplain. These findings enlarge sociological concepts about spiritual care to include what recipients experience as emotional labor and call for a broader engagement between sociologists of religion and emotions. Full article

The practice of spiritual care in health has included the goal of addressing the spiritual needs of healthcare staff. Spiritual-care practitioners have had some difficulty in fulfilling this goal, which has created the need for innovative approaches. Two approaches designed to address the spiritual and existential needs of staff are Value-Based Reflective Practice (VBRP) and Schwartz Rounds. Schwartz Rounds are a regular whole-hospital meeting where staff are invited to share and discuss the social and emotional aspects of their work. They are an evidence-based intervention to reduce psychological distress and improve staff wellbeing. This paper seeks to explore the role of spiritual care practitioners in addressing the spiritual and existential needs of staff. It then explores the synergy of these roles with the theory and practice of the above approaches, with a particular emphasis on Schwartz Rounds. The paper is grounded in the experience of the authors collaborating to establish Schwartz Rounds in a large and culturally diverse hospital while also playing a leadership role in the establishment and sustainability of Schwartz programmes in other settings. Full article

Many mental health care patients, regardless of their religious beliefs, prefer a similar outlook on life with their professional caregivers. Patients experience greater openness to discuss religion and spirituality (R/S), mutual understanding, less fear of disapproval and report a higher treatment alliance. The question is whether the core problem of a so-called ‘religiosity gap’ (RG) lies in (a) an objective difference in outlook on life, (b) a perceived difference in outlook on life or (c) in unmet R/S care needs. We explored this by matching data of 55 patients with their respective caregivers for a quantitative analysis. An actual (objective) RG, when patients were religious and caregivers not, was not associated with a lower treatment alliance but a difference in intrinsic religiosity, especially when caregivers scored higher than patients, was related to a lower treatment alliance. A subjective RG, perceived by patients, and a higher level of unmet R/S care needs were also significantly associated with a lower treatment alliance as rated by patients. These results emphasize that sensitivity, respect and openness regarding R/S and secular views are essential elements in treatment and might benefit the treatment relationship. Full article

Dementia is a growing global health issue, particularly in developed countries with high and increasing life expectancies. Often, health care and social approaches problematise and see as defective people with dementia; they are viewed in terms of their deficiencies. The concept of personhood helps provide a theological framework of inherent worth, regardless of physical or cognitive capacity. This paper takes a case study approach and considers how the notion of personhood impacted the motivations and practice of two chaplains working in Aotearoa New Zealand residential dementia care settings. These chaplains offered a ministry of personal and sacramental presence. They provided simple ecumenical services, comprising elements that were familiar to the residents. They were motivated by and acted with love and compassion. The article concludes by noting implications for chaplaincy practice, including the importance of being personhood-affirming, acting out of love, and being expectant of and attentive to the discipleship and spiritual formation of residents. Full article

This article unites the Special Issue’s themes of religion, prison, and spaces to examine the prison chaplaincy as a microaggressive environment for people of minority and especially non-religious belief. Although the chaplaincy purports to cater to all faiths and none, it is an inherently religious institution dominated by the Church of England, whose power and privilege is reinforced in both prison policy and legislation. After setting out the context and methodology of my empirical study, I unpack the concept of microaggressions and share original data from interviews with non-religious chaplaincy volunteers to demonstrate the ways in which prison chaplaincy can be alienating to people with a secular world view both as a pastoral service and a workplace. I also explore the physical space of the chaplaincy as a site of everyday othering, through its layout, language, and imagery. Ultimately, I argue that this facility is not suitable for everyone and creates hierarchies of access in which some prisoners and, indeed, staff feel more welcome than others. The article therefore proposes changes to people, place, and policy that could reduce this microaggressive impact. Full article

The perceived value of the integration of spirituality and religion (SR) in mental health care is growing. This study aimed to adapt an SR intervention developed in the USA (SPIRIT) for use in the Netherlands and to explore its applicability. Employing a participatory practice-based action research design, professionals, clients, and an advisory board collaborated in iterative cycles of translation, adaptation, discussion, and testing. The ongoing interfaith dialog during the adaptation process broadened the perspectives incorporated into the existing handouts. We added the term “meaning” (M) alongside SR to accommodate patients who do not identify with religion or spirituality. Additionally, several handouts were added to the original protocol: autonomy, responsibility, and liberty; loneliness and belonging; inspiring persons in the past and present; and grief and loss. Moreover, the existing handout on sacred verses was expanded to encompass versions from various outlooks on life: philosophical/humanistic, Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, and Hindu. Finally, layout modifications and diverse exercise formats were introduced. A qualitative examination revealed that the adapted SPIRIT protocol was well received by professionals and patients, and quantitative studies on its applicability and usefulness are recommended. Full article

In general, studies of spirituality show positive associations with measures of well-being, but less is known about the possible role of mental distress in this association. Following the two-continua model of mental health, the current quantitative four-week follow-up study examines how spirituality is associated with well-being and mental distress. Spirituality is measured using the Spirituality Attitude and Interest List questionnaire (SAIL), well-being by the Dutch Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHCSF-SF), and mental distress by the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ-48). At baseline, 874 adults from the Netherlands and Belgium completed the online questionnaire; four weeks later, 560 participants completed the follow-up questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses showed that spirituality at baseline, and in particular the subscale on ‘meaning in life,’ predicted higher well-being scores at follow-up after adjustment for baseline well-being scores. Spirituality also predicted changes in mental distress scores, in particular on the subscales of trust and transcendent experience. However, these associations were in opposite directions. Trust was associated with a small decrease in mental distress over time and transcendent experience was associated with a small increase in mental distress over time. The results confirm the importance of meaning in life, trust, and transcendent experience as elements of mental health. Full article

While there is a significant body of research concerning Catholic faith formation in a variety of educational contexts around the world, relatively little attention has been devoted to the notion of missionary discipleship as a foundation for Catholic formation. Recently, the National Catholic Education Commission, in its document Leading Formation for Mission, also elaborates a solid definition of formation and stated: ‘Formation is imaginative, creative and honours adult learning principles […] It engages the ‘intellect’ and is nurtured by appropriate theological content and it engages the ‘Spirit’ and is characterised by contemplation and action for mission’ (2022). This paper seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of formation for missionary discipleship by presenting an evaluation of the efficacy of In Altum, a student-focussed ministry and leadership program developed at the University of Notre Dame Australia in response to the developing magisterial teaching concerning the notion of ‘missionary discipleship’. In particular, we examine participants’ personal faith development, understanding of missionary discipleship on campus, preparation for future ministry, and understanding of contemporary challenges to discipleship. The study progresses in three parts: First, it provides a brief background to In Altum, including the philosophical and sociological context, as well as the key theological principles underpinning the formation offered within the program. Second, following an overview of the mixed-methodology approach taken in the study, which details both the use of qualitative and quantitative data derived from focus groups and an online survey, the paper presents the results of the study, which sought to investigate the efficacy of the program as it pertained to the following: (a) the building of (personal subjective assessment of) faith in participants; (b) the building of participants’ understanding of, and confidence in, the task of evangelisation as missionary discipleship in a secularised context; (c) building a strengthened sense of community amongst the participants. In the third and final section, the reported strengths and weaknesses of the program are examined. The paper also comments on implications for the program on the culture of the university more broadly, including precepts of the program’s findings that may be applied in light of the Australian Catholic Plenary Council’s findings to enhance the future directions of formation programs in the Catholic University Chaplaincy, with possible application to Catholic secondary schools and parish youth groups. Full article