Lauren M Borges, Sean M Barnes, Jacob K Farnsworth, Wyatt R Evans, Zachary Moon, Kent D Drescher, Robyn D Walser
{"title":"Cultivating psychological flexibility to address religious and spiritual suffering in moral injury.","authors":"Lauren M Borges, Sean M Barnes, Jacob K Farnsworth, Wyatt R Evans, Zachary Moon, Kent D Drescher, Robyn D Walser","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2022.2031467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2031467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the current paper, we aim to expand the dialogue about applying psychological flexibility processes to moral injury-related spiritual suffering using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Psychological flexibility is the process of practicing present moment awareness and openness to experiences of emotions and thoughts, while also choosing to engage in actions that are consistent with one's values. This open, aware, and engaged approach to life fits well with spiritual endeavors. We provide a framework and a case example illustrating how spiritual care providers and Chaplains can use psychological flexibility processes to target spiritual suffering in the context of moral injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":"28 sup1","pages":"S32-S41"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39880872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of military chaplaincy in addressing service member help avoidance: A critical review with treatment implications.","authors":"Michael Prazak, Dellas Oliver Herbel","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2020.1793094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1793094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The problem of suicide and mental health difficulties generally among military service members has a prominent and central role at present. Notoriously, suicides have long represented more military deaths than actual combat. However, despite attempts to address this and related difficulties, the problem continues to rise, rather than subsist. The present review begins with an exploration of the severity and prevalence of mental health difficulties in the military, with a focus on suicide and trauma in particular. It then identifies and expands upon the three key barriers to help-seeking within a military context, and applies the aforementioned discussion to the valuable but understudied and underutilized role of healthcare chaplaincy in a military setting. Discussion of the steps that may be taken to better communicate the value and function of healthcare chaplaincy across the service from leadership to service members follows.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"108-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/08854726.2020.1793094","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38177946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda L Roze des Ordons, Henry T Stelfox, Tasnim Sinuff, Kathleen Grindrod-Millar, Shane Sinclair
{"title":"Exploring spiritual health practitioners' roles and activities in critical care contexts.","authors":"Amanda L Roze des Ordons, Henry T Stelfox, Tasnim Sinuff, Kathleen Grindrod-Millar, Shane Sinclair","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2020.1734371","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1734371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) experience multidimensional distress. Many clinicians lack an understanding of spiritual health practitioners' role and approaches to providing spiritual support. Through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 10 spiritual health practitioners, we explored how spiritual health practitioners support families of patients in the ICU to better understand their scope of practice and role within an interdisciplinary critical care team. Spiritual health practitioners' work was described through clinical roles (family support, clinician support, bridging family members and clinicians), activities (companioning, counseling, facilitating difficult conversations, addressing individual needs), tensions (within and between roles and activities, navigating between hope and anticipated clinical trajectory, balancing supportive care and workload) and foundational principles (holistic perspective, resilience). A more comprehensive understanding of these roles and skills may enable clinicians to better integrate spiritual health practitioners into the fabric of care for patients, families, and clinicians themselves.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"41-62"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/08854726.2020.1734371","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37727088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preface.","authors":"Keith G Meador","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2022.2047565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2047565","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"S1-S2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40313852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Witnesses of hope in times of despair: chaplains in palliative care. A qualitative study.","authors":"Erik Olsman","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2020.1727602","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1727602","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hope is an important topic in spiritual care in palliative care but the experiences of chaplains with hope have hardly been explored. The objective of this study was to explore Dutch chaplains' experiences with hope in palliative care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, which were thematically analyzed. The 10 chaplains had a variety of ordinations: Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Humanistic, or otherwise. Participants spoke about changes in patients' hope, often implying despair and surrender, in which patients' self-reflection was pivotal. Participants felt witnesses of hope, not by offering hope, but by acknowledging patients' hope and despair while being with their patients. They criticized other professionals who, not bearing witness to these experiences, tried to offer hope to patients. We conclude that chaplains may become witnesses of hope in times of despair, which includes the (ideological) critical function of spiritual care.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"29-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/08854726.2020.1727602","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37670510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preliminary Evaluation of a Core Knowledge Test for Certification of Health Care Chaplains.","authors":"George F Handzo, Susan K Wintz","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2020.1847864","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1847864","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article describes the rationale, evolution, implementation, and evaluation of a process for testing core knowledge in health care chaplaincy certification. The process developed by the Spiritual Care Association uses online testing of evidence-based core knowledge developed with several expert advisory committees. The process seems to have acceptable validity, reliability, feasibility and usability and should be considered as a component to current certification processes for health care chaplains.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"138-146"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/08854726.2020.1847864","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38625373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marek Kopacz, Todd M Bishop, Amanda Ayre, Rachel L Boska, David Goldstrom, Drew Tomberlin, Sheila Baxter, Shawn Dunlap, J Irene Harris
{"title":"Feasibility of using moral injury screening instruments in VA chaplaincy spiritual assessments.","authors":"Marek Kopacz, Todd M Bishop, Amanda Ayre, Rachel L Boska, David Goldstrom, Drew Tomberlin, Sheila Baxter, Shawn Dunlap, J Irene Harris","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2022.2032980","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2032980","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Some veterans experience symptoms of moral injury after being exposed to the ethical and moral challenges associated with military service. While it is well known that moral injury is associated with an increased risk for suicide as well as other mental health concerns, few tools exist to systematically screen for moral injury in chaplaincy settings. This preliminary study examines the psychometric properties as well as feasibility of applying two new moral injury screening tools that could be used with routine spiritual assessments, purposefully designed to assess for moral injury in chaplaincy settings at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. The results provide preliminary psychometric evidence to support the reliability and validity of these two new screening tools, which were shown to be feasible for use in VA chaplaincy settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":"28 sup1","pages":"S89-S100"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39773085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chris J Antal, Peter D Yeomans, Kelly Denton-Borhaug, Scott A Hutchinson
{"title":"A communal intervention for military moral injury.","authors":"Chris J Antal, Peter D Yeomans, Kelly Denton-Borhaug, Scott A Hutchinson","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2022.2032981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2032981","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Moral Injury Group (MIG) at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz (Philadelphia) VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC) is an example of collaborative care between chaplains and psychologists that engages religious, academic, and not-for-profit communities, as well as the media and other organizations external to the healthcare context. The intervention is primarily informed by a unique conceptualization: <i>the moral injury (MI) of individual veterans is rooted in the unfair distribution of appropriate moral pain and best addressed through communal intervention that facilitates broader moral engagement and responsibility</i>. MI is a public health issue that <i>arises from</i> the unfair distribution of appropriate moral pain and <i>is sourced by</i> the sedimentary layers of structural violence in US institutions related to war, and US war-culture. Preventing veteran suicide and promoting public health requires a larger social analysis and more broad-based, collective and collaborative understanding of, and response to, US war-culture, extending responsibility for MI care and prevention beyond individual veterans in health care institutions and clinical settings to US society.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":"28 sup1","pages":"S79-S88"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39884242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patricia U Pernicano, Jennifer Wortmann, Kerry Haynes
{"title":"Acceptance and forgiveness therapy for veterans with moral injury: spiritual and psychological collaboration in group treatment.","authors":"Patricia U Pernicano, Jennifer Wortmann, Kerry Haynes","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2022.2032982","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2022.2032982","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The authors developed Acceptance and Forgiveness Therapy (AFT), a psychospiritual group intervention that guides veterans with moral injury experientially from a trauma-focused (damaged, broken, guilty, unforgivable, hopeless, unacceptable) to restorative (worthy, connected, hopeful, forgiven, responsible) view of self. A mental health (MH)-trained chaplain and MH provider, as co-leaders, provide psychoeducation, facilitate therapeutic interaction, and encourage home practice. The curriculum includes evidence-driven psychological interventions, spiritually oriented practices, and metaphor, story, and art to illustrate concepts and facilitate self-expression. Scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2 showed decreased distress and increased flexibility. Post-group drawings reflect renewed purpose, greater self-acceptance, and meaningful engagement with others. Retention rate across seven group administrations ranged from 50% to 100%. Outcomes suggest AFT is a promising practice for veteran moral injury meriting further study and implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":"28 sup1","pages":"S57-S78"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39900251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Military chaplaincy in Sweden: A contemporary perspective.","authors":"Jan Grimell","doi":"10.1080/08854726.2020.1745490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1745490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pastors serving as military chaplains have been an integral part of the Swedish Armed Forces for hundreds of years. This close relationship has continued even after the Church of Sweden was formally separated from the state in 2000. Yet contemporary research drawing from experiences of Swedish military chaplains during their pastoral and spiritual assignments within a military context is virtually non-existent. This research explores the contemporary situation for military chaplaincy in Sweden through the lenses of proportional accessibility for military personnel, availability to civilian congregations, increasing cultural and ethnic diversity, religious embeddedness in military culture, theological tension, and personal identity development among chaplains. It furthermore suggests that military chaplains navigate a complex situation: they are expected to serve professional service members, many of whom have war zone experiences, in addition to shepherding increasing volumes of conscripts now that conscription has been reinstated, all within a new interreligious paradigm.</p>","PeriodicalId":45330,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy","volume":" ","pages":"81-94"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/08854726.2020.1745490","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37790979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}