Psychologists are getting more training in spiritual matters; “a quarter of psychologists and psychiatrists have been trained in how to meet clients’ spiritual needs, according to Lukoff, who recently helped develop a program to promote “spiritual competency” for therapists, which includes classes on mindfulness, self-compassion, forgiveness and mystical experience. He says that spiritual techniques can be especially helpful when individuals are grappling with deep existential questions.”
… “Americans’ mental health is at the lowest point in history,” said David H. Rosmarin, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, in this article in The Washington Post. “People are feeling more isolated than ever. They are less connected to each other and also to something spiritual. It’s a big problem.”
“Rosmarin is one of a growing number of psychologists who believe that religion and spirituality have tools that can help in today’s mental health crisis.In recent years, there has been an increase in training opportunities to integrate faith and spirituality into psychotherapy as well as articles and research papers about it published in professional journals.”
… “When people groan and ask, ‘God why are you doing this to me? Why is there suffering in the world? What is meaning and purpose of life?’— that is not a psychological problem. It’s a spiritual struggle,” said Eric J. Hall, a Presbyterian minister and president of the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network,a nonprofit chaplaincy service that works in hospitals and other health-care settings.”
It’s great that Psychologists are learning more about religious needs of their clients, and how to support them spiritually.
The Company Chaplain wants to partner with other disciplines, the way we do in the hospital settings where we are part of the care team for a patient, addressing their spiritual and emotional needs at the same time as doctors, therapists, social workers are addressing other domains of needs–physical, social, psychological etc.
In our work with employees, we call that the hybrid model of spiritual care. Clients can continue to have support from us while they work with another discipline, or not, as they wish. We see this as giving more options for the client, and empowering them to choose the type of care they prefer.
The hybrid model can be helpful if there is a long time wait time to see a mental health provider, as is often the case these days–allowing a client to be supported spiritually and emotionally while they are waiting for the mental health appointment. The chaplain support would be in addition to the mental health care, not a substitute for it. Again, as an option, if the client chooses.