Three Emerging Spiritual Practices in the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC): From Pastoral Care and Counselling to Multi-Faith, Evidence-Based Spiritual Care and Psycho-Spiritual Therapy.

Describes the relationship between practice and theory (praxis) along with an examination of changes in the last 40 years in the praxis of pastoral care and counselling in the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) that led to spiritual care and psycho-spiritual therapy. Developments in spiritual practices include growth in multi-faith, evidence-based spiritual care, and spiritually integrated psychotherapy (psycho-spiritual therapy). Suggests further areas of research and reflection including process theology.

Three doors to spiritual reflection: ethnographic research on the role of emotion, images, and sacred texts in spiritual reflection done by non-chaplaincy health care professionals.

This is an ethnographic study exploring the role of emotion, images, and sacred texts in the spiritual reflection of non-chaplaincy health care professionals who offer spiritual care to their patients. Purposeful sampling of 20 health care professionals was employed. These non-chaplaincy professionals were interviewed and the researchers also kept field notes on the cultures in which they worked.

In the beginning: a Canadian ethnographic study on sources and definitions of spiritual reflection used by health care professionals who are not chaplains.

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.

Poetic imagination: a qualitative study on emotion, images, and verses from sacred texts in the praxis of theological reflection in pastoral care and counseling.

What is the role of emotions, imagination, and images in the praxis of theological reflection in pastoral care and counseling, and what images and/or verses from sacred texts best describe the process of theological reflection? These two questions guided this ethnographic study. Seventy-five practitioners of pastoral care and counseling were interviewed and field notes were also made. Findings include the importance of emotion and imagination with a variety of images and verses from sacred texts.

Canadian ethnographic study of sources and definitions of theological reflection in pastoral care and counseling.

What are the sources and definitions of theological reflection developed by Canadian practitioners of pastoral care and counseling? This study is part of a larger qualitative research project on theological reflection. This research reviews the literature, describes the ethnographic method, and presents the findings with a sample of 75. Main sources are sacred texts, personal experience, experiences of clients, and traditions of faith group.

Not well known, used little and needed: Canadian chaplains' experiences of published spiritual assessment tools.

What are Canadian chaplains' experiences of published assessment tools? Utilizing a quantitative and qualitative methodology with multiple investigators and theoretical triangulation, this article reports the results of a survey of chaplains in the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education (CAPPE) and interview results of 15 chaplains in three focus groups. Findings indicated that published spiritual assessment tools are not well know, used little, criticized for being reductionistic and not fitting the clinical situation. Participants noted, however, that spiritual assessment is needed for spiritual care.

Review of quantity and types of spirituality research in three health care databases (1962-1999): implications for the health care ministry.

Using computer technology to identify the term "spiritual," these researchers present results of the 2306 citations and compare five criteria discovered with research reported in four pastoral counseling journals. The authors note the limitations of such a search and the possible implications of the findings for health care ministry.

Quantity and rigor of qualitative research in four pastoral counseling journals.

Examines the quantity (N = 26) and rigor of qualitative research in The Journal of Pastoral Care, Pastoral Sciences, Journal of Religion and Health, and Pastoral Psychology for 1993-1997. Defines qualitative research using the work of Douglas Sprenkle and Sidney Moon. Uses the eleven criteria developed by Nicholas Mays and Catherine Pope in British Medical Journal for judging rigor.

The Hamilton SPE Evaluation Tool (HSET): is it any good?

Presents the Hamilton Supervised Pastoral Evaluation Tool (HSET). HSET is a self-report that evaluates student learning in a basic SPE unit utilizing six areas: supervisory relationship, personal growth, professional growth, theological reflection, learning context, and overall growth. Reviews statistics involving seven regional units consisting of 18 SPE units with 101 students.

Hope in the midst of challenge: evidence-based pastoral care.

Describes the origins and characteristics of evidence-based pastoral care and utilizes a case with a person with cerebral palsy demonstrating this approach. Draws on evidence from research and critically evaluates evidence. Notes the dynamic relationship between research and clinical practice and makes suggestions about utilizing evidence-based pastoral care in chaplaincy.

Quantitative and qualitative outcome research on a regional basic supervised SPE (supervised pastoral education) program.

Discusses issues in the evaluation of supervised pastoral education (SPE) programs. Explains four ways of applying triangulation in developing an accurate evaluation of SPE and presents a case study of an SPE program evaluated through triangulation Offers suggestions about the use of triangulation on SPE program evaluation.

Making the most and making sense: ethnographic research on spirituality in palliative care.

Presents ethnographic research on spirituality in palliative care. Reviews the literature and interviews palliative care staff along with their patients. Discovers two dominant themes in the literature and interviews with staff and patients around spirituality: making the most of it now and making sense.

Diversity in the pastoral relationship: an evaluation of the helping styles inventory.

Presents an ethnographic study of practitioners' experiences of the Helping Styles Inventory (HSI). Analyzes the data from twenty-one interviews, noting helpful and limiting aspects of the HSI. Discusses implications of the research for the HSI and for ministry in general.