bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug-Eluting vs Standard Balloon Angioplasty for Iliac Stent Restenosis
Authors: Stahlhoff Stefan , Donas Konstantinos P. , Torsello Giovanni , Osada Nani , Herten Monika
Published: May 2015

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty for the treatment of iliac artery in-stent restenosis (ISR). Methods: Data from 18 patients (mean age 59.3±9.6 years; 11 men) treated with DEB for iliac ISR between October 2009 and August 2013 were retrospectively evaluated and compared with a control group of 22 patients (mean age 66.7±11.8 years; 16 men) treated with standard balloon angioplasty (BA). Primary endpoint of the study was the primary patency rate at 12 months. Secondary endpoints were 30-day and overall mortality, sustained clinical improvement [ankle-brachial index (ABI) and Rutherford category] and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). Follow-up examinations were performed by clinical examination, color duplex ultrasound, and ABI measurement at 12 months. Results: Mean length of the 21 lesions in the DEB group was 27.1±19.2 mm vs 20.0±11.4 mm for the 25 lesions in the BA group (p=0.508), while the grade of restenosis was 70.4%±18.4% and 64.0%±16.1% (p=0.255), respectively. Primary patency rates were 90.5% vs 85.7% at 6 months and 71.4% vs 75.6% at 12 months for DEB and BA, respectively (p=0.784). Five BA patients died during follow-up for reasons unrelated to the procedure, while no patient in the DEB group died (p=0.035). In both groups, Rutherford category and ABI significantly improved compared to pretreatment levels; there were no differences between the groups regarding these variables (p=0.367 and p=0.898, respectively). The TLR rate was 28.6% (6/21) in the DEB group and 20.0% (4/20) in the BA cohort (p=0.434). Conclusion: Treatment of iliac ISR using DEBs is a safe procedure, with results comparable to BA treatment. Because of the limited number of patients in this study, further investigation of a larger cohort with longer follow-up is needed to define the role of DEBs in the treatment of iliac ISR.
Caring for the Stories that Come to Us: Work Narratives and Their Sacred Promise
Authors: Karl John C.
Published: May 2015

People often lack opportunity and place to reflect upon and share the sacred moments that occur in their work. Thus, these experiences are marginalized and neglected. Yet, they embody the soul of one's vocation. Drawing upon material from narrative family therapy, this article suggests that attending to and remembering these core but marginalized experiences is an activity for pastoral care. Narratives integrate spirituality and work. The article discusses the structure of narrative, its life cycle, and living in a universe composed of many stories. It explains a storytelling ritual that creates a safe place among the listeners who can then receive the narrative's sacredness. Two extended examples of sacred work narratives are given. A task for pastoral care is to construct hospitable places, sanctuaries, to hear the voice of these marginalized stories.
From Object to Subject: Pastoral Supervision as an Intersubjective Activitity
Authors: DeLong William R.
Published: May 2015

The author sketches the development of psychoanalysis in terms of its trends from notions of objectivity to intersubjectivity and how this movement can inform contemporary pastoral supervision. The article argues that these same trends may be noted in the development of contemporary educational and theological theories.
Pastoral Counseling as a Spiritual Practice: An Exercise in a Theology of Spirituality
Authors: VanKatwyk Peter L.
Published: May 2015

The author explores reasons for differentiating pastoral care from spiritual care and presents a theological exercise in articulating pastoral counseling as a spiritual practice. Viewing spirituality from systemic and constructivist perspectives, the author utilizes Paul Tillich's ontology of polarities. He describes spirituality as a subjective, “fuzzy,” and inclusive concept and argues for the need for pastoral specialists to theologically articulate their ministry not only as a pastoral but also as a spiritual discipline.
Rethinking Supervision of Ministry
Authors: LaMothe Ryan
Published: May 2015

This article addresses the need for ongoing supervision in ministry and explores reasons for the avoidance of supervision. More specifically, twentieth century ideas regarding epistemology and Freud's “discovery” of the unconscious reveal important limitations in the commonly held model of supervision and at the same time provide reasons for the benefits of supervision. Further, this article proposes that individual unconscious motivations and religious institutional structures contribute to the avoidance of ongoing supervision in ministry.
Care Teams and Pastoral Professionals: Response to the Health Care Changes of this Decade
Authors: Sunderland Ronald H.
Published: May 2015

Demographic changes already in motion will result in unprecedented population changes in the next four decades and beyond for which we have little time to prepare. In particular, as the population aged 65 and over grows, a significant cohort will manifest health-related needs of older age. Even in families with adequate health insurance, confronted with the chronic illness of loved ones, the need for continuous in-home support, including pastoral care, will become dire. For many families whose situations are complicated by low incomes, under-insurance, and membership of minority populations, pastoral support will tax their congregations beyond present capabilities. Interfaith Care Partners' Care Team model of in-home pastoral support is the most effective means of delivering the pastoral support such families need. It calls for a creative linking of hospital out-patient services with individuals' congregations, and, particularly, of a stronger connection between hospital chaplaincy services and community clergy.
Rolling Away the Stone: Post-Abortion Women in the Christian Community
Authors: Jeal Roy R. , West Linda A.
Published: May 2015

This article seeks to bring to awareness and address the issues of a neglected group of people in need of pastoral care: women who have had an abortion. It offers some commentary regarding what many women experience following an abortion, focuses on the story of a specific woman, and goes on to offer a biblical perspective for a pastoral response to their needs. Responses to the article are offered by a healthcare chaplain and a seminary professor.
Spiritual Distress at Life's End: Finding Meaning in the Maelstrom
Authors: Kennedy Christine , Cheston Sharon E.
Published: May 2015

Recent trends in social research indicate a decline in church attendance and a corresponding increased interest in spirituality. With the aging of the population, attention to end of life care, with its corresponding spiritual concerns and distress, has become a prominent issue. Spiritual distress can be difficult to distinguish from psychological and physical distress and indicates the need for differential diagnostic markers to distinguish between genuine spiritual experience and psychosis related to the physical death process. Further, for hospice patients who are in genuine need of amelioration through pharmacologic suppression, the question of when and how to medicate becomes paramount as the distinction between spiritual process and physchosis becomes less evident. This article is an exploratory attempt to encourage dialogue across interdisciplinary lines and foster participation from alternative therapies representing the spiritual context of the patient. Anecdotal data from hospice professionals representing a variety of disciplines are presented to illustrate and emphasize the need for continued dialogue and research in this important area.
Being Forgiven: Toward a Thicker Description of Forgiveness
Authors: Ashby Homer U.
Published: May 2015

The author describes the less frequently examined process of seeking forgiveness from others. Examples from the seminary classroom are used to describe the process. The examination of the seeking forgiveness process provides insight into the whole construct of forgiveness.
An Evaluation of the Quantity and Quality of Empirical Research in Three Pastoral Care and Counseling journals, 1990–1999: Has Anything Changed?
Authors: Flannelly Kevin J. , Oppenheimer Julia E. , Liu Clarence , Weaver Andrew J. , Larson David B.
Published: May 2015

This article summarizes a review of all articles published in Pastoral Psychology, The Journal of Rleigion and Health, and The Journal of Pastoral Care between 1900 and 1999, identifying a total of 737 scholarly articles, of which 165 (22.4%) were research studies. The proportion of research studies, especially quantitative studies, increased significantly between the first and second half of the study period ( p<.05). There was a significant positive correlation between compliance with three out of four criteria of internal validity. Three of five criteria of external validity were also positively related to one another. Compared to previous research using identical criteria to assess quantitative studies in the same journals in 1980–1989, the 1990–1999 sample showed improved compliance with respect to specifying the sampling method ( p<.001), reporting the response rate ( p<.05), and discussing the limitations of research studies ( p<.001). However, the overall findings suggest that many researchers in the field do not have a sophisticated knowledge of statistical sampling, statistical analysis, or research design. Several recommendations for increasing the quality of quantitative research are offered.
The Dignity of Servanthood in Pastoral Care
Authors: Sunderland Ronald H.
Published: May 2015

Servanthood is a dominant image of ministry in both Jewish and Christian scriptures, and poses a rich source of material from which to address the theme of human dignity from the perspective of pastoral care. The biblical concept of servanthood, which defines the nature of the pastoral relationship and dignifies the personhood of the care recipient, suggests an approach to the issues of vulnerability of both giver and receiver of care, and proposes that the caring relationship is best conceived as a partnership to which each participant brings gifts. The servant theme implies addressing the notion of the kingship of Christ, how control issues affect the ministry of pastoral care, and the realization that being a servant of the Lord entails a concern for the well being of each individual and of the social order; that is, servant ministry mandates both visiting the sick ( Matthew 25) and seek justice and righteousness as social norms ( Isaiah 16:5).
Clinical Pastoral Education and Post Privacy Legislation: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Gibbons Graeme D.
Published: May 2015

Recently introduced privacy legislation in Australia has required that professional associations approaching education from the perspective of human cases review their standards and develop new policies and procedures to protect the privacy of individuals. In this article, the author explores the disruption created for Clinical Pastoral Education by the introduction of these privacy laws, demonstrates that it is possible to be loyal to both a commitment to privacy and learning from “living human documents,” develop strategies for changing the educational culture, and establish new procedures, strategies, and policy.
The Experience of Spirituality in the Psycho-Social Adaptation of Cancer Survivors
Authors: Samson André , Zerter Barbara
Published: May 2015

This article presents the results of a retrospective, phenomenological study of the experience of spirituality in the psychosocial adaptation of cancer survivors. The experience of illness for the participants in the study is one which promotes greater personal and spiritual growth. The study demonstrates that illness provokes personal growth and transformation in the individual. While making use of pre-existing coping resources, the person with cancer reevaluates and restructures her or his life, integrating new values, priorities, and perspectives which lead the patient to invest her or his life in something meaningful and beneficial to others.
Informed Consent and Parish Clergy
Authors: Bush Joseph E.
Published: May 2015

Pastors are given permission by others to extend care and to practice ministry. This permission may be given in denominational policy, congregational expectations, or individual requests for pastoral care. At the individual level, permission for pastoral care can be understood as analogous to the notion of ìinformed consentî in health care ethics. Informed consent is a compound concept involving: (1) the sharing and clarifying of relevant information, and (2) the respect for a person's consent for care or refusal of care. It functions as a guard both against harm and against unwanted beneficence. Because many expectations for pastoral care are not explicitly stated, ministers need to develop sensitivity to hear both requests for help and requests for privacy.
How are Health Care Chaplains Helpful to Bereaved Family Members? Telephone Survey Results
Authors: Broccolo Gerard T. , VandeCreek Larry
Published: May 2015

After conducting telephone interviews with 130 next-of-kin whose loved one died, the authors report whether and how chaplains were helpful to these family members. Analysis of their responses indicated that chaplains were helpful in five ways. They provided comfort and support; they helped family members with details before, during, and after death; they acted as surrogate family members until other loved ones arrived; their availability provided a safety net even if contact was limited; and they functioned as a spiritual figure who provided the transition of the patient from earth to heaven. Family members rated the helpfulness of chaplains as midway between very good and excellent.
A Parallel Process Seminar for Use in Programs of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Authors: Heathcock J. Edwin
Published: May 2015

A seminar model is developed and used for students in Clinical Pastoral Education to explore parallel process dynamics operative in their ministry. One of the key assumptions on which this seminar is designed is that students will present material from their work with patients that carry relational dynamics that parallel the students' intra-psychic dynamics. Verbatim material presented is used in the learning group to identify and respond to the presenter's intra-psychic dynamics and their implication for ministry—to provide support, clarification, and/or confrontation with the intent of facilitating personal and professional growth.
Chaplain, Soldier, Counselor, Pilgrim
Authors: Muse Stephen
Published: May 2015

The author offers examples of supervision drawing on object relations therapy and Christian faith, doctrine, and life, designed to facilitate theological integration of pastoral identity and clinical practice in the training of U. S. Army Family Life Chaplains. Therapeutic and supervisory relationships are conceived of as dia-Logos encounters requiring the same degree of ascetical sobriety, presence, and vulnerability as prayer and worship. Concepts of therapeutic aggression, functional atheism, and “not knowing” are linked with on-going self-examination and repentance stimulated by empathic engagement of clients as primary ingredients for spiritual growth and effective pastoral counseling.
Trinity, Polyphony and Pastoral Relationships
Authors: Pembroke Neil Francis
Published: May 2015

The author explores the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to shed light on the nature of the pastoral ministry. Using the trinitarian term, “polyphony” (David Cunningham) for this purpose, he explicates unity and difference as key polyphonic categories in the doctrine of the Trinity. The author suggests that the polyphonic notes sounded by pastoral caregivers are toughness and tenderness, woundedness and health, wisdom and folly, and communion, nearness and distance.
Developing a Buddhist Approach to Pastoral Care: A Peacemaker's View
Authors: Monnett Mikel
Published: May 2015

As the United States becomes a more multicultural and multireligious society, the ranks of healthcare chaplains are no longer being limited solely to Judeo-Christian clerics. In an effort to increase interfaith understanding and ecumenical awareness, the author presents one model of healthcare chaplaincy that derives itself from a Buddhist perspective and how he uses it in his daily work at a large medical center in the United States.
A Teaching Project for Training Family Residents regarding the Services of Hospital Chaplains
Authors: Ritter R. Hal , Smith Larry , Ayub Muhammad , Santibanez Lydia , Tayi Ravi
Published: May 2015

In doing a curriculum evaluation for Behavioral Science training of Family Medicine Residents, it was determined that the knowledge of the work of the chaplains in inpatient care was somewhat limited. The Behavioral Science Educator initiated a collaborative project with the Department of Pastoral Care in order to facilitate an increased awareness of the chaplains' services, since the chaplains are part of the patient treatment team. This article is a description and evaluation of that project.
Opening up the Circle: Next Steps in Process Group Work in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Authors: Hemenway Joan E.
Published: May 2015

This article applies systems-centered theory (SCT)™ to the small process group experience in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) by exploring six key questions: 1) What is the purpose of the small process group in CPE? 2) Is there an alternative to getting stuck in the “hot seat” dynamic? 3) Do we (clergy) always have to be nice? 4) Is there life beyond personal story telling? 5) Does the authority issue ever go away? 6) How much difference is too much difference? The article includes vignettes to illustrate theory.
Betrayal and Healing: The Aftermath of Judas' Kiss
Authors: Van Dyke Platt Canon Nancy , Hall Richard H.
Published: May 2015

Acts of betrayal among clergy and parishioners can have devastating effects on a parish. Understanding and healing in the aftermath of betrayal can be accomplished through relating such acts to the scriptural betrayal of Christ by Judas. The motivations that led Judas to his betrayal of Jesus, and the methods and mindset through which this betrayal took place, are often similar to those found in everyday parish life. A desire for power and control, whether financial or personal, is frequently at the heart of the betrayer's actions, just as it was for Judas. Grief, anger, frustration, and confusion are often experienced by the affected congregation, just as it was among Jesus' disciples following Judas' betrayal. Healing the injury done in a betrayal requires open acknowledgment of the betrayer's actions as well as discussion of the effects that these actions have had upon the congregation.
Compassion Fatigue and Burnout among Rabbis Working as Chaplains
Authors: Taylor Rabbi Bonita E. , Weaver Andrew J. , Flannelly Kevin J. , Zucker Rabbi David J.
Published: May 2015

Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout were studied in a convenience sample of 66 male and female Rabbis who work as chaplains and attended the annual conference of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) in 2002. Although Compassion Fatigue and Burnout were low among the survey participants, both measures were significantly higher among the women in the sample. Compassion Fatigue was also higher among chaplains who were divorced, and it increased with the number of hours per week the chaplains spent working with trauma victims or their families ( r= .25, p<.05). Hierarchical multiple regression was performed to determine the influence of six professional and five personal variables on each of the three dependent variables. Four professional variables accounted for 19.5% of the variation and three personal variables accounted for 20.3% of the variation in Compassion Fatigue. Attempts to predict Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction were far less successful. Burnout was predicted by only two variables ( i.e. age and years as a Rabbi), which accounted for just 18.4% of the variance in Burnout scores. Age was the only variable found to have a significant effect on Compassion Satisfaction, and its effect was positive. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Keeping and Sharing: Confidentiality in Ministry
Authors: Lind Christopher
Published: May 2015

What ethical norms regarding confidentiality are applied by ministers in their professional practice? In this essay conventional ethical assumptions about confidentiality in ministry, taken from the work of Gaylord Noyce, are compared with the experiences, attitudes, and expectations of ordered and lay members of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada in two Canadian regions. The similarities and differences are then compared and contrasted with more contemporary theories. The study concludes that most people in the two denominations studied borrowed their ethical norms from the counseling context. Most subjects thought of confidentiality in terms of the beneficial therapeutic effects of keeping the secrets but they also articulated alternative theological grounds for maintaining confidences. Different expectations about how information is to be handled also reveal deeper theological and ecclesiological conflicts over the appropriateness of debriefing with members of the congregation. Differences between rural and urban congregations were revealed in the example of public prayer as an occasion for the breaking of a confidence.
Black Milk: Literary Resources for Learning Pastoral Care
Authors: Steinke Paul D.
Published: May 2015

The author details ways of utilizing literary resources in learning pastoral care and provides specific references that can be used to illustrate a variety of topics frequently encountered by pastoral caregivers.
Chronic Pain, Meaning, and Spirituality: A Qualitative Study of the Healing Process in Relation to the Role of Meaning and Spirituality
Authors: Sorajjakool Siroj , Aveling Leigh , Thompson Kevin Martin , Earl Art
Published: May 2015

This qualitative study explores experiences of individuals with chronic pain in their attempt to find meaning in the presence of continual pain. Fifteen participants at Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center were interviewed. Emerging themes from this study show that 1) meaning is initially defined as the ability to engage in productive activities and positive relationships; 2) chronic pain is perceived as the factor that removes meaning from the lives of sufferers; 3) medication is used to cope with pain, leading to addiction; 4) addiction results in greater loss of meaning; and 5) rediscovery of meaning takes place through a more complex understanding of the self that embraces suffering and thus is able to explain the interrelation of pain, emotions, and addiction. A change in self-understanding makes the reintegration of meaning possible.
Therapy Talk and Therapeutic Conversations: The Formation of Pastoral Counselors
Authors: VanKatwyk Peter L.
Published: May 2015

The article demonstrates a process analysis for therapeutic conversations, highlighting four styles of therapeutic communication and its relational patterns, and illustrates the use of two educational tools in learning the languages of therapy that shape therapeutic conversations.
Liminality: The Transforming Grace of In-between Places
Authors: Franks Anne , Meteyard John
Published: May 2015

Richard Rohr suggests that the only way out of a person's entrapment in “normalcy, the way things are,” is to be drawn into sacred space, often called liminality, where he believes all genuine transformation occurs. Liminality, from the Latin word for threshold, is the state of being betwixt and between where the old world has been left behind but we have not yet arrived at what is to come. This article attempts to develop an understanding of liminality using metaphors of wilderness, tomb, and exile as found in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. It seeks to reconcile the paradox of the apparent hiddenness of God and the concurrent opportunity to see Him in new ways that occurs in these times. Pastoral care and counseling applications for those working with people in liminal space are briefly engaged.
The Controversy over Pastoral Care of Parents after a Stillbirth
Authors: Zengerle F. Susan
Published: May 2015

Studies published in the last few years have suggested that the current practice in hospital obstetric units of encouraging parents to spend time with, hold, and even care for their stillborn fetus or baby may be deleterious to them. Rather than helping to allay grieving and successfully bring mourning to closure, mothers who had increasing levels of contact with the body of their stillborn baby were incrementally more likely to suffer depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in their next pregnancy and to have difficulty with attachment to their next child. These findings parallel observations from meta-analyses that question the efficacy of single-session debriefing (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) after psychological trauma in preventing the later emergence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Although not conclusive, these initial studies support the urgent need for further research to allow evidence-based pastoral care for those whose pregnancies end in stillbirth and loss. Given this much uncertainty about the risks posed by contact with her stillborn baby, mothers who do not chose to see their dead infants should not be persuaded to do so on the grounds of beneficence.
The Paradoxical Nature of Surrender
Authors: Holley Dorothy E. Adamson
Published: May 2015

Surrender is one of the most fundamental, important aspects of spirituality and of integration. It is crucial to our relationship to God, to self, and to others. While surrender is essential for any real attempt at authenticity and integration, it is also one of the most challenging aspects of any spiritual pursuit or endeavor. The inability or unwillingness to surrender is a serious impediment to our relationship with God, with others, and even with ourselves. Paradoxically, there is great freedom and an increased sense of control that is experienced when one is able to surrender. This article explores two themes that the author believes are involved in surrender: fear and trust. Clinical as well as personal examples of the paradoxical nature and transformational power of surrender are offered.
Pastoral Theory and Practice in the Team Approach to Treatment of Scrupulosity as a Component of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Kennemer Darren L.
Published: May 2015

The statistical estimates of the prevalence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the general population have increased dramatically in recent years. “Blasphemous” obsessions and religious compulsions dominate the clinical picture of many sufferers of OCD. Freud proposed that religion might be a contributing factor for many patients with mental illness. He hedged, however, that observation—something that many of his followers have not done. Others have noted the pathoplasticity of strict religious upbringing and images of God as vindictive or otherwise harsh. Only recently—since the 1970s—has much clinical attention been focused on this disorder by the other disciplines within the mental health community. The church, however, is ahead of the curve in diagnosis and treatment of scrupulosity. It has long been a concern for pastoral counselors—particularly pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic priests. Pathological religion influences OCD and pastoral counseling, the author proposes, can contributes to recovery.
The Value of Observing an Autopsy in Clergy and Pastoral Care Education
Authors: Graham Larry Kent
Published: May 2015

The value of observing an autopsy for clergy and students training to provide pastoral care is that it raises consciousness about death and dying, assists in the participants' healing from loss, provides resources for ministering to the bereaved, builds a network with other professionals responding to death and dying, and evokes viscerally-generated insights into theological questions concerning body and soul, life after death, and concepts of God in relation to death and bereavement.
Spiritual Needs: Gender Differences among Professional Spiritual Care Providers
Authors: Galek Kathleen , Flannelly Kevin J. , Jacobs Martha R. , Barone John D.
Published: May 2015

The current study explored gender differences regarding spirituality by comparing the relative frequency with which male ( n = 85) and female ( n = 103) professional chaplains experience various facets of the spiritual experience. The women in the sample reported experiencing five of the seven spiritual constructs examined significantly more often than men, including the need for (1) belonging, (2) meaning, (3) hope, (4) beauty, and (5) acceptance of death. No significant gender differences were found for spiritual needs related to morality concerns or religious practices.
“Elicitation Hooks”: A Discourse Analysis of Chaplain-Patient Interaction in Pastoral and Spiritual Care
Authors: Harvey Kevin , Brown Brian , Crawford Paul , Candlin Sally
Published: May 2015

The article considers the communicative role of the hospital chaplain and maps some of the language strategies deployed to facilitate disclosure of the patients' concerns and achieve enhanced spiritual care. These include: i) involvement, ii) politeness and iii) encouraging disclosure or exploring emotion.
Godly Play: An Intervention for Improving Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Responses of Chronically Ill Hospitalized Children
Authors: Farrell Joan , Cope Scott Brooks , Cooper James H. , Mathias Leigh
Published: May 2015

An experimental two-group comparison pilot study of forty chronically ill hospitalized children was carried out at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Three Godly Play interventions were given to participants in the experimental group. Children in the control group did not participate but received a fairy tale book as a control. The sample was evenly distributed with twenty (20) males and twenty (20) females. Ages ranged from six (6) to fifteen (15) years and all participants were chronically ill. Five (5) variables were studied. Of the five (5), three (3) showed significant differences before and after Godly Play: the Staic-Trait Anxiety Scale ( p=.049), the Children's Depression Inventory ( p=.011), and the McBride Spirituality Assessment ( p=.033). A marginal difference in parent satisfaction with hospital care of children in the experimental and control groups was also determined ( p=.058). Findings suggest that Godly Play had a significant effect on anxiety, depression, and spirituality of children and support the idea that the parents of children who participated in Godly Play were more satisfied with hospital care than those parents whose children did not engage in Godly Play.
Screening for Pastoral Visitations Using the Clinical+Coping Score
Authors: Ledbetter Timothy J.
Published: May 2015

Hospital chaplains struggle to know which patients most likely need pastoral care and why. The author presents a computerized model to screen and document indicated patients. A new screening tool is introduced, the Clinical+ Coping Score, which can check with greater precision for patients who show evidence of insufficient coping. This screening model informs the subsequent assessment and intervention opportunities, though they are not discussed. The model's format enables chaplains to efficiently and effectively document pastoral screening using the hospital's electronic charting program. Two levels of visitation priority are suggested. In so doing, the chaplains are able to identify the indicators for pastoral care contacts and interventions, as well as the number of patients whose recognized needs have yet to be addressed.
When Mom's the Patient
Authors: Parks D. Mark
Published: May 2015

This verbatim on the author's mother's death was originally submitted to a Clinical Pastoral Education Group on November 02, 2007. Its purpose was (1) to incorporate a working knowledge of psychosocial disciplines and religious beliefs and practice in the provision of pastoral care, and (2) to process, reflect, and learn from the interpersonal, spiritual, and ethical dynamics that occurred during the chaplain's mother's dying process.
Insecure Attachment in Couples' Relationships
Authors: Gostecnik Christian , Repic Tanja , Cvetek Robert
Published: May 2015

Couples who are emotionally estranged even though they live together cannot really commit to each other. Their relationship is usually interwoven with painful, mostly unconscious and unaddressed attachment issues. These couples are characterized by a constant fear of intimacy, the leaving/approaching dynamics which provoke further fear in one of the partners and is therefore unstopable. With the help of therapeutic interventions, we will search for the roots of their avoidant behavior and try to creatre a save, intimate place which we call a sacred place, where the healing process can begin.
The Practice of Interpersonal Forgiveness in the Personal and Professional Lives of Clergy
Authors: VanLoon Preston
Published: May 2015

This study examined the effects of a forgiveness education intervention on the psychological wellbeing of clergy and their ability to apply interpersonal forgiveness skills in their personal lives and in professional conflict situations depicted in hypothetical interpersonal conflict vignettes. A sample of 32 clergy from eleven different denominations was randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. Significant results were found between the groups in regards to the participants' willingness to forgive and the use of forgiveness strategies for resolving the interpersonal conflict situations.
The Metaphor of Experience and the Experience of Metaphor: Critical Reflection on a Contemplative Process toward Aliveness and Compassion
Authors: Kuchan Karen L.
Published: May 2015

An epistemological web invites critical reflection and the possibility of new ideas emerging in the space between experience and different ways of thinking. A web offers a postmodern method of a hermeneutic of experience and a way of knowing that creates space for a robust, flexible, dynamic process of critical reflection and discovery. The following article utilizes an inter-textual epistemological web (see Figure 1, p. 4) to answer the question, “Do metaphors of experience and experiences of metaphor during contemplative healing prayer with a spiritual director nurture a transformational process toward aliveness and compassion?” How can one discover and communicate this reality in dialog with Hebrew scripture, psychoanalytic theory, affective neuroscience and ways of thinking about contemplative transformation?
In the Beginning: A Canadian Ethnographic Study on Sources and Definitions of Spiritual Reflection Used by Health Care Professionals Who are Not Chaplains
Authors: O'Connor Thomas St. James , Chow Mike , Payne Gary , Young Janet , Rivera Myrta , Meakes Elizabeth , McGregor Laura , Howitt Janet
Published: May 2015

This qualitative study presents a literature review, methodology, findings and discussion from a sample of 20 health care professional around their experiences of sources and definitions of spiritual reflection. The sample includes nursing, social work, occupational therapy, medicine, physiotherapy, music therapy, psychology and recreational therapy. Major sources are music, poetry, stories and sacred texts. Definitions are meaning making and encountering the divine along with personal reflection on values and assumptions. Limitations of the research and recommendations for education, practice and future research are also presented.
Feeling Whole: The Meaning of Being Consoled Narrated by Very Old People
Authors: Fischer Regina Santamäki , Lundman Berit , Norberg Astrid
Published: May 2015

Interviews with 13 people, over 85 years, with high scored Self-transcendence, were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. The meaning of being consoled was interpreted to Feeling whole, an immediate experience of: being carried and embraced by God ( Feeling connected to God), supported by the loving care and affection from others ( Feeling connected to fellow beings and the world), being relaxed, peaceful and full of joy and experiencing hope ( Being connected to self).
The Taboo of Politics in Pastoral Counseling
Authors: LaMothe Ryan
Published: May 2015

The political realities of society are present in counseling in subtle and overt ways. In this article, I argue that the client's (and counselor's) political experiences, beliefs, and commitments can be and, in many cases, should be explored. The idea of the political self or subjectivity and its identifying features and sources are described. I posit that political subjectivity forms through the processes of internalization, identification, and idealization. In identifying several reasons for the taboo of political discourse in pastoral counseling, I suggest a number of ways pastoral counselors may manage the political self in the counseling relationship. The three goals for exploring a client's political subjectivity for the client are: (1) to have a deeper and broader understanding of one's political beliefs, values, and commitments; (2) develop a more empathic understanding of the beliefs and experiences of Others; and (3) be able to take responsibility for the harm that results from one's political commitments.
Spiritual Care in the Last Phase of Life: A Comparison between the Church of Sweden and the Church of Finland
Authors: Grassman Eva Jeppsson , Pessi Anne Birgitta , Whitaker Anna , Juntunen Elina
Published: May 2015

This article deals with the Church of Sweden and the Church of Finland and their spiritual support for parishioners during their end-of-life phase. Support for the dying seemed uncommon in both countries, while most parishes offered support for the bereaved. The Finnish respondents expressed more confidence in their spiritual role than did the Swedes. This may have to do with the role of the churches in their respective countries and the varying geographies of death.
Transforming Illness into Choice: A Spiritual Perspective
Authors: Barnes Rev. Peter
Published: May 2015

Illness is seen as the enemy in today's world, while spirituality might be considered counter-cultural. This article explores the positive attributes of illness seen through the eyes of spirituality. By identifying spiritual themes in a person's life, especially evident in times of illness, one may maximize the experience of illness for its benefit rather than its curse.
Allergy and Spirituality
Authors: Barron Earle P.
Published: May 2015

This article considers the relationships of allergic reactions to substances and emotions. It deals with spiritual sensitivity as well. Resistance is a key to allergic reactions: Allergic reactions involve the body's resistance to substances, emotions, and their energies. A major problem in spiritual formation is resistance to giving up the prideful and self-centered position and moving into loving relationships. It is sometimes possible from an alternative approach to promote spirituality by treating allergy. In spiritual formation, one may sometimes decrease allergic tendencies by giving up pride and other negative emotions. I propose that the alternative method I advocate not only reduces symptoms but deals with causes on an energetic level. It works with physical, emotional and spiritual factors. It provides new ways for counselors and spiritual directors to quickly get to basic issues and clear negative emotions and beliefs. This may be accomplished within or in connection with the therapists' or directors' particular religions, practices and/or therapeutic approaches.
Who Needs Chaplain's Visitation in General Hospitals? Assessing Patients with Psychosocial and Religious Needs
Authors: Winter-Pfändler Urs , Morgenthaler Christoph
Published: May 2015

Owing to the declining length of patients' hospital stay in recent years, chaplains need evidence-based criteria to decide which patients are likely to have the greatest psychosocial and/or religious-spiritual needs. Therefore, the present pilot study aims at sorting out evidence-based criteria to assess patients with lack of coping resources. A total of 610 patients in the German-speaking part of Switzerland were surveyed with regard to their psychosocial health. The results suggest that lack of vitality (including health condition), lack of support and lack of faith (including spiritual struggle) are valid and reliable criteria for chaplains as internal triggers for pastoral visitation.
Post Christian Pastoral Care: The Wisdom of Not Knowing
Authors: Blaine-Wallace William Edwards
Published: May 2015

Emergent religious pluralism leads many of us to reflect on pastoral care practices that have evolved mostly within the Judeo Christian tradition. This article makes public my reflections and offers ideas for a ministry of curiosity that is more conversant with an increasingly Post Christian society.
Using Movies in Pastoral Counseling
Authors: Gelo Florence
Published: May 2015

This article uses a case study of a bereaved woman to illustrate the potential benefits of using movies as an adjunctive therapy in pastoral counseling. The article also references the literature on bibliotherapy and cinematherapy while summarizing relevant findings from studies for the use of movies in clinical practice. This article offers both suggestions and cautions for practitioners. At this time, research suggests that a considered therapeutic use of movies can be beneficial for personal growth.
Process Theology's Relevance for Older Survivors of Domestic Violence
Authors: Bowland Sharon
Published: May 2015

Pastoral work with survivors of domestic violence may reveal theological struggles. Understandings of scripture that reinforce a sense of powerlessness and alienation from God may contribute to an impaired relationship and limit resources for healing. One framework for re-imaging a relationship with God is process theology. This framework was applied to a case study for one survivor. The application resulted in a line of inquiry that may assist survivors in their healing process.
A Survey of Clergy Practices Associated with Premarital Financial Counseling
Authors: Halley Ryan E. , Durband Dorothy B. , Bailey William C. , Gustafson A. William
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain an understanding of the state of clergy-led premarital financial counseling. Clergy respondents (n =223) indicated that they often include a financial component in their formal premarital counseling. The most frequently discussed financial topics are budgeting, managing debt and credit, and saving. The most frequently cited obstacles to providing premarital financial counseling are lack of time and lack of subject matter expertise.
The Emergence of the New Chaplaincy: Re-Defining Pastoral Care for the Postmodern Age
Authors: Thorstenson Timothy A.
Published: May 2015

Noting the rapid evolution of pastoral care in American hospitals and culture, the author embraces and explicates the shift toward an inclusive and holistic model of spiritual care that has ramifications for care delivery and clinical education.
The ‘Methodic’ Exploration of the Ethical and Pastoral Dimension in Interaction: The Cycle of Encounter
Authors: Riemslagh Marina , Cuvelier Ferdinand , Corveleyn Jozef , Liégeois Axel
Published: May 2015

Social competence can be understood as the capacity to interact with each other. As such, it is the acquisition and optimization of an interior attitude that transcends technique; it is a way of loving and doing justice to one another. A scheme is presented to explore the ethical and spiritual dimensions of the pastoral counseling process. Ethics is both an objective discipline and a relationship. Relationships are built during qualitative encounters that build respect and construct religious meanings. All encounters share this process. This article explores the logic of ethical dynamics with particular focus on pastoral counseling encounters.
Clergy Burnout and Resilience: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Jackson-Jordan Elizabeth Ann
Published: May 2015

In this article, I review the literature on burnout and resilience among clergy. The existing research shows that the factors related to clergy burnout include the quality of interpersonal skills, relationships outside the congregation, establishment of peer/mentor relationships, the existence of high role expectations, personal spirituality and the ability to set healthy emotional boundaries. Recent studies using positive psychology as a framework identify a number of personal and situational qualities that promote resilience in clergy. Based on these findings, I suggest interventions that should be made by faith groups to better support clergy and make recommendations for further research.
Translating Spiritual Care in the Chaplain Profession
Authors: Cramer Emily M. , Tenzek Kelly E. , Allen Mike
Published: May 2015

Chaplains provide a much-needed service to patients and families requiring spiritual care in the healthcare setting. Despite evidence documenting improvements quality of life for patients using spiritual services, chaplains experience challenges in translating the benefits they provide into concepts understood by patients, team members, and administrators. A qualitative study using interviews with 19 chaplains found that translation problems occur in three main areas: (a) justifying the role to patients and families, (b) determinations of what constitutes a “productive” employee, and (c) effective collaboration with other members of the health care team. This study outlines several strategies used by chaplains to ease the process of translation, as well as some directions for future research.
Discerning Lived Spirituality: The Reception of Otherness
Authors: Walton Martin Neal
Published: May 2015

A previous article focused on an analysis of prominent conceptualizations of spirituality in health care. The encompassing character of those approaches was viewed as problematic because too little attention is paid to the distinctiveness and particularities of spiritual experience. This article argues that the criteria gleaned from the prior analysis provide an impetus for a constructive discernment proposal of lived spirituality. The experience of otherness is provides a central clue to an understanding of spirituality particularly by two key terms, receptivity and transformation, as central characterizations of lived spirituality. These terms are investigated as they embrace operational potential for chaplaincy care. The article concludes with a reflection on chaplaincy care as it relates to spiritual practice.
Emotional Competence (Intelligence) and Vocational Choice among Candidates for the Ordained Ministry
Authors: Hunt Richard A. , Mortensen Ralph A. , Gorsuch Richard L. , Malony H. Newton
Published: May 2015

This research examined the ways in which vocational interests of United Methodist candidates for ordained ministry are related to Emotional Competence (EC) as measured by Inventory of Religious Activities and Interests (IRAI) ministry interests and 16PF personality scales. Results show two primary clusters of ministry interests that are related to EC. Recommendations include ways that supervisors, mentors, and pastor-staff-parish relations committees can use this information to enable pastors to grow in their EC skills.