Spiritual Care Groups in Behavioral Health - A Resource for Facilitators
A Holistic Approach: Employing Diverse Modalities to Support Participation and Increase Inclusivity
My approach to spiritual care groups in Behavioral Health has been influenced by my experiences leading and facilitating groups in diverse contexts over many years: with kids/youth, adults with dementia, coaching in athletics (dance/martial arts), and teaching students in academic settings. In my spiritual care groups, I strive for inclusivity: a holistic approach of mind, body, spirit. My goal is to invite and empower participation from patients with diverse learning styles, personality types, energy levels, ages, backgrounds, diagnosis and levels of functionality by diversifying modalities of participation in my groups. Hence, in addition to making space for cognitive reflection through verbal sharing and reflection, I also include singing, musical instruments, readings, visual art, sculpture, body movement, meditative gestures, guided meditation and silence. This diversity of modalities allows participants to choose to participate in activities that match their ability, affinity, and comfort level. For example, I recently had a non-English speaking patient in my group. While this patient did not comprehend the readings and sharing, that person was still able to appreciate the meditative physical gestures, the silence, and the art work, and the music. In my view, resisting the common tendency towards over reliance on cognitive reflection and verbal sharing allows participants whose verbal and cognitive capacities may be impaired by their illness or medications to be fully included in the experience of the group. For example, a patient who stayed quiet during group sharing told me (during his discharge) that he appreciated the stories, the moments of silence, the prayerful readings and music, and that the spiritual care session was a highlight in his two week stay. I have found patients appreciate the non-verbal and non-analytical aspects of the sessions that I lead, especially music, and hear reports from my colleagues on the floor that some patients continue singing songs from our spiritual care sessions throughout the day.
My approach to spiritual care groups in Behavioral Health has been influenced by my experiences leading and facilitating groups in diverse contexts over many years: with kids/youth, adults with dementia, coaching in athletics (dance/martial arts), and teaching students in academic settings. In my spiritual care groups, I strive for inclusivity: a holistic approach of mind, body, spirit. My goal is to invite and empower participation from patients with diverse learning styles, personality types, energy levels, ages, backgrounds, diagnosis and levels of functionality by diversifying modalities of participation in my groups. Hence, in addition to making space for cognitive reflection through verbal sharing and reflection, I also include singing, musical instruments, readings, visual art, sculpture, body movement, meditative gestures, guided meditation and silence. This diversity of modalities allows participants to choose to participate in activities that match their ability, affinity, and comfort level. For example, I recently had a non-English speaking patient in my group. While this patient did not comprehend the readings and sharing, that person was still able to appreciate the meditative physical gestures, the silence, and the art work, and the music. In my view, resisting the common tendency towards over reliance on cognitive reflection and verbal sharing allows participants whose verbal and cognitive capacities may be impaired by their illness or medications to be fully included in the experience of the group. For example, a patient who stayed quiet during group sharing told me (during his discharge) that he appreciated the stories, the moments of silence, the prayerful readings and music, and that the spiritual care session was a highlight in his two week stay. I have found patients appreciate the non-verbal and non-analytical aspects of the sessions that I lead, especially music, and hear reports from my colleagues on the floor that some patients continue singing songs from our spiritual care sessions throughout the day.
The Structure of the Session
I arrange the space in a circle, and set up a small sacred altar (cloth, candle and a bell) at the center. The flow of the 1 hour session usually has this sequence:
I arrange the space in a circle, and set up a small sacred altar (cloth, candle and a bell) at the center. The flow of the 1 hour session usually has this sequence:
- Briefly explain what the group is all about and share the role of a chaplain, and the purpose of the session (including a working definition of spirituality). Explain the activities in the session which may include the following: to listen to each other's stories by reflecting on a story/parable/mythology, to do contemplative art work, to read/sing poems & prayers, to practice mindful breathing & silence. Guidelines: Respect; Talking Object.
- Invite everyone to share their name, their pronouns, and share a bit about themselves using a prompt connected to the theme of the story of the day (example: "Share the name of someone in your life who has guided you out of danger," "Name a memory of an event of the best meal you've ever had, wherein you felt nourished.")
- Light the candle: "We light up this candle to mark this circle as a sacred space, and to honor the light that is in each one of us."
- A short reading and song to get ready
- Hearing a Wisdom Story
- Ring the bell for silence
- Sharing our wonderings & reflections
- A reading and/or song related to the story
- Embodied Gesture
- The Work - Art Activity (10 minutes)
- Quick group share about their work
- Sharing of prayers, Naming intentions for healing
- Closing Prayer/Blessing and/or song
