Chaplain Kit Hall

Attending to Spiritual Growth:
Enhancing Professional Competencies

In August of 2008, I completed a two-year apprenticeship program through the Sacred Art of Living Center (SALC) located in Bend, Oregon. Participation in The Anamcara Project, not only expanded my spiritual awareness and personal spiritual practice, but also many of my professional competencies as outlined by the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Based on the Celtic tradition, an Anamcara, literally Soul Friend, is trained in the classic tools of spiritual discernment, in order to walk with others through life and to be a spiritual midwife for the dying. St. Charles Medical Center, Bend, Oregon, served as a local “pilot site” for the project and sponsored ten staff members, representing various professions and departments throughout the hospital. We participated in The Anamcara Project with 171 other participants, from multiple countries, states and cultures. This interfaith program acquainted us with a tool chest of spiritual practices and specific skills to help address spiritual pain as we navigate the terrain of our lives. As Anamcara apprentices we gathered for four module sessions of five days every six months. The apprentices attended workshops presented by leaders in the international Hospice movement, medical professionals and others deeply involved in palliative care, spiritual practices and non-traditional forms of medical and spiritual pain intervention. As apprentices we were acquainted with therapies such as: therapeutic touch, process work coma therapy, guided visualization, insight meditation, music therapy, ritual art, journaling, centering prayer, dream tending, grief work, etc.

After each education module we developed individual practicum projects to be exercised within the “pilot sites”, sites that agreed to participate with the SALC in order to integrate many of these therapies into our practices and to focus on specific skills for the next six months. The module focus, my personal practicum projects and the attending APC professional competencies, in order of the four modules, are as follows:

Module I, “Understanding Spiritual Pain”; I focused on identifying my spiritual pain and how it affected my ability to be fully present with others in their spiritual pain. I found this practice enhanced my Identity and Conduct Competencies, particularly in regards to “articulating ways in which one’s feelings attitudes, values and assumptions affect one’s pastoral identity” (IDC4) and “Attending to one’s own physical, emotional and spiritual well being” (IDC7) ;

Module II, “Diagnosing Spiritual Pain”: Throughout this practicum I focused on story catching; listening to the stories of patients as a narrative of their illness in order to identify the keys to unlocking their souls. This practice particularly expanded these Pastoral Competencies: “Formulate and utilize spiritual assessments in order to contribute to the plans of care” (PAS6) and “Facilitate theological reflection in the practice of pastoral care” (PAS9);

Module III, “Healing Through Spiritual Pain”: I introduced and administered guided visualization exercises to over 50 patients in this module. These exercises addressed symptoms caused by psycho-spiritual issues and physical pain. The practice of guided visualization was on the line of therapy and pastoral support, frequently allowing the patient an opportunity to receive physical relief and comfort and insight into psycho-spiritual issues. The Pastoral Competency that this practice supported and expanded for me is, “Provided effective pastoral support that contributes to well-being of patients, their families and staff” (PAS2);

Module IV, “Transforming Spiritual Pain”: This practicum consisted of a discernment process in union with my spiritual director of my current and future personal practices to maintain my physical and spiritual health. For these practices are one way I am able to identify and transform my spiritual pain, thereby allowing me to be open to the transformation in others. This process served to expand on one of my Theory of Pastoral Care Competencies, especially in relation to “Articulating a theology of spiritual care that is integrated with a theory of pastoral practice” (TPC1).

As a hospital chaplain the importance of self-awareness including my strengths and areas of growth, is of critical importance to my ability to be present with others and hear their stories. The Anamcara Project has had and continues to have an enormous impact upon my spiritual walk and vocation. I am fortunate to work daily with several others who participated in The Anamcara Project. We are able to use the tools we have been provided, encourage one another in reaching our potential and to be a catalyst for personal growth and exploration for the population and institutions we serve. I encourage others to look into The Anamcara Project as a means to attending to their spiritual growth and enhancing their professional competencies.

For information on The Anamcara Project contact: www.anamcaraproject.info

Do you have thoughts about professional practice you’d like to share with your colleagues? Send an e-mail info@PlainViews.org.