Chaplains’ Professional Identity and a Structured Approach to Chaplaincy
Mutually Exclusive or Complementary
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10340929 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Iris R Wierstra (0000-0001-7587-8887, University of Humanistic Studies, corresponding author), 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) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 799-815 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Pastoral Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0031-2789 • E-ISSN: 1573-6679 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11089-024-01164-5 |
| OpenAlex | W4403843085 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 22 |
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
Who I am in how I teach is the message
Healthcare Chaplains Responding to Change
World-viewing Dialogues on Precarious Life
Health Care Chaplaincy
Addressing spiritual needs in palliative care
Research Priorities for Health Care Chaplaincy in The Netherlands
Research Priorities for Healthcare Chaplaincy
Outcomes for Professional Health Care Chaplaincy
Can Outcome Research Respect the Integrity of Chaplaincy? A Review of Outcome Studies
The professionalization of chaplaincy A Comparison of 1997 and 2017 Surveys in The Netherlands
Art of living, art of dying
Addressing the spiritual domain in a plural society
Transcending the Suffering in Cancer
Standardization of Spiritual Care in Healthcare Facilities in the Netherlands
Dreaming the Land
Getting the story, understanding the lives
Using thematic analysis in psychology
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |