WHAT IS PSYCHOSPIRITUAL CARE AND
HOW DOES IT INFORM
MY PRACTICE?
Dr. Kristine Lund
CASCSWONT Networking Day
May 27, 2015
What is Psycho-Spiritual Care?
• Specialist Certification (CPE):
• “A specialist . . . .(g)rounded in a faith commitment and endorsed
by one’s respective faith community, the specialist responds to
spiritual and psychosocial needs. Being a spiritual care professional,
the specialist ministers holistically, namely as healer, witness,
prophet, advocate, clinician, educator and spiritual companion.”
(CASC/ACSS Policy and Procedure Manual Chapter 2 Section II C. 1)
Ken Pargament – Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy
• Psycho-spiritual language “ . . . psychologically meaningful concepts
carrying rich, emotionally powerful connotations that invite
spiritual exploration.” (pg. 217)
Nash (1990) – listen for psycho-spiritual language – point to deeper
spiritual struggles.
What is a psycho-spiritual approach?
• Of or pertaining to spirituality and the mind
https://www.wordnik.com/words/psychospiritual
• The psycho-spiritual approach utilizes both traditional psychological
theories of human growth and a spiritual approach to support the
individual on their particular journey.
http://www.allthingshealing.com/psycho-spiritual-healingdefinition.php#.VWRZqka8vOs
• The psycho-spiritual approach is an integrated approach of the
traditional psychological theories and spiritual direction.
http://www.academia.edu/7067690/PsychoSpiritual_Integration_in_Counseling_Introduction
What is the controlled act of psychotherapy?
The practice of psychotherapy is the
assessment and treatment of cognitive,
emotional or behavioural disturbances by
psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a
therapeutic relationship based primarily on
verbal or non-verbal communication.
See Psychotherapy Act, 2007, section 3.
Bob Bond’s diagram
Controlled Acts
Counselling
Treating by prayer or
spiritual means
according to the
practitioner’s religious
tenets
Counselling about spiritual matters
HPRAC Distinction between Psychotherapy & Counselling
“The practice of psychotherapy is distinct from both counselling,
where the focus is on the provision of information, advice-giving,
encouragement and instruction, and spiritual counselling, which is
counselling related to religion or faith-based beliefs.” HPRAC: New
Directions, 2006; Chapter 7, Regulation of Psychotherapy, p. 208. The
College is not regulating counsellors or counselling. However,
psychotherapy and counselling can be highly interrelated.
Use of specialty titles
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CRPO has not established a program to formally recognize and confer specialty
designations, and the new College is unlikely to do so in the immediate future.
However, Members will be permitted to use terms, titles and designations conferred
by third parties, along with their regulated title, if:
the title is not honorary and was not awarded purely based on attendance at a course
or workshop. [The Member must have acquired knowledge and skill, i.e. competence,
associated with the term, title or designation, generally having completed a
professional education & training program that included study, mastery and
evaluation];
it is conferred by a recognized credentialing body, i.e. one that is broadly recognized
within the profession as legitimate;
it meets established standards, i.e. standards that are broadly recognized within the
profession as legitimate; and
prominence is given to the Member’s regulated title.
These conditions will enable Members to use terms, titles and designations that are
meaningful and generally recognized by the profession. Members should be aware
that specialty titles used inappropriately could result in misconduct complaints to the
College. In that case, the appropriateness may be judged by a panel of the Member’s
peers, i.e. other Members of the College.
Will spiritual care providers be required to register with the
College?
It is expected that the new College will register practitioners from
faith-based or spiritual care backgrounds who meet registration
requirements, via either grandparenting or the regular route. The
College does not support the contention, however, that all chaplains
or spiritual care providers must be registered. This will depend on
their particular roles, their training, and possibly, the expectation of
their employers.
Bob Bond’s diagram
Controlled Acts
Counselling
Treating by prayer or
spiritual means
according to the
practitioner’s religious
tenets
Counselling about spiritual matters