Chaplains do stuff. We have a taxonomy that tells us so. We call what we do interventions. We purposefully help careseekers approach their religious and existential concerns to help them find meaning, purpose and balance. These specific acts, for many of us, include: spiritual histories, spiritual pain assessments, connectedness with the sacred or profane, guided imagery, psycho//social modalities, prayer, deep active listening, feedback loops, nature and energy work. Each setting for chaplaincy utilizes different assessment tools, and some do not use any. This Forest Find is designed for members to critically explore assessment tools in the hope that you will develop and refine tools to share in the community.
Assessments, Metrics, and Accountability
The Carbon-Based Self and the Search for Meaning
Many of us have gravitated to a particular mode of assessment based on our training and clinical contexts. Even more likely, you have some hybrid form of multiple assessment tools that inform your practice that are unique to you and those you serve.
What is missing? What has changed over time? How has your practice influenced your understanding of what assessment should be utilized for?
The primary resource below explores how the proposed Spiritual Assessment System (SAS) identifies places where meaning is lost in a person's life.
Chaplains’ Perspectives on Standardizing Spiritual Assessments
The Stratification of Emotions: Some Preliminary Generalizations*
Flow and Emotional Experience In Spirituality,
Moving Beyond Spiritual Assessments: A Dynamic, Augustinian Approach to Spiritual Care of the Dying
Feelings of Pain In Marginalized Communities
Consider
Have you ever considered types of emotional behaviors as being connected to particular groups of people? How have these perceptions of emotional displays impacted your care strategies?