Chaplains’ Professional Identity and a Structured Approach to Chaplaincy

Mutually Exclusive or Complementary

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10340929
AutoresIris R Wierstra (0000-0001-7587-8887, University of Humanistic Studies, autor de correspondencia), Annemarie Foppen (0000-0002-8527-8540, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), X J S Rosie (0000-0003-4969-6048), Anke I Liefbroer (0000-0003-4356-3981, Tilburg University)
Año2024
Volumen73
Número6
Páginas799-815
Fecha de publicación2024-10-28
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPastoral Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0031-2789 • E-ISSN: 1573-6679
EditorialSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s11089-024-01164-5
OpenAlexW4403843085
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas22

The trend towards evidence-based health care challenges chaplains to work with structured—predefined and standardized—interventions that lead to measurable outcomes. However, chaplaincy literature raises various objections against using a structured approach. These include compromising the chaplain-client relationship, standardizing and limiting chaplaincy content, and the instrumentalization of the spiritual dimension. Based on a thematic analysis of 20 interviews and 33 workbooks, the current study investigates the experiences of chaplains in the Netherlands who participated in a structured intervention provided in palliative clients’ homes. The results show that most chaplains did indeed struggle with developing a healing relationship with their clients in which they are attuned to their specific needs. At the same time, the participating chaplains reported that a structured approach enriches and broadens the content of their care, improves the impact on clients, and grasps the spiritual dimension of their work. We found that the chaplains’ experiences differed depending on the professional role they emphasized. When they integrate and balance the roles of companion, counselor, and spiritual guide evenly, a structured approach can complement chaplains’ professional identity

Aesthetics · Cross-cultural psychology · Identity (music · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · Philosophy · Psychology · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Religious Education and Schools · Social Psychology