Spirituality in Client Care: The Role of Faith, Meditation, and Mindfulness in Healing

• •Define spirituality in terms of the healing process
• •Summarize importance of spirituality and religion for health
• •Describe your role in supporting spirituality for your clients
• •Conduct a religious history
• •Determine your client's spiritual needs
• •Identify the True Self and its importance in the healing process
• •Evaluate the critical connections and qualities of the True Self
• •Manage religious transference and counter-transference
• •Recognize how your stance in religion and science affects your delivery of services
• •Assess faith of your client and yourself
• •Incorporate faith, meditation, and mindfulness in your clinical work

Integrate the contributions of science and spirituality as healing agents in your practice
Health care workers have historically distanced themselves from spiritual matters; however, outcome studies in recent decades have identified a significant relationship between science and spirituality for healing. In fact, with the advent of holistic medicine, spirituality has become a cornerstone in health care, as research demonstrates that both spirituality and religion enhance well-being. Advances in neuroscience and quantum mechanics further encourage clinicians to recognize a complementary, rather than contradictory, relationship between science and religion. Furthermore, many clients define themselves as spiritual, and these spiritual beliefs affect both physical and emotional health. As a result, health care professionals are now charged through their discipline to support the spiritual needs of clients. But, how is this to occur? What is spirituality—and how is the health care professional to guide this component in the healing process? How do you understand your professional role to meet your client?s spiritual needs?

Dr. Chirban has conducted interdisciplinary research in medicine, psychology, and religion for over 30 years. He will present evidence-based research, in conjunction with insights from the major spiritual traditions in world religions, to provide a foundation that guides professionals to support and effectively respond to the spiritual needs of their clients. Dr. Chirban will share how recent research findings on the relationship between faith and health can be integrated in the treatment of your client. He will also present case studies and group exercises to illustrate the importance of accessing the True Self to promote healing, discover meaning, and find fulfillment. Attendees will gain knowledge in understanding the power of faith, meditation, and mindfulness in the healing process, along with learning practical insights that can be directly applied in clinical practice.