Article May 27, 2002 Issue

the SEARCH for HEALTH and WELL-BEING

A look at the reintegration of spirituality into healthcare practices

By Giulia Plum

LEAH IS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST in private practice. She regularly attends seminars and workshops to support her own spiritual growth, and she's convinced it makes her a better, more effective clinician. Almost to her surprise as a trained clinician, she now sees her work as essentially "spiritual healing." She says, "It all comes down to God and love."

Leah prays before seeing her patients, often using a variation of St. Francis of Assisi's petition, that she be used as an instrument of God's healing and peace. "When I'm in doubt about what I should do or say, I call Spirit to it." She thinks of Christ as God's transforming energy and says, "I believe in going directly to the source, to God." She admits to having trouble finding the language to express these new concepts of a healing practice.

Leah is hardly alone in her spiritual search. More and more healthcare professionals are integrating spiritual ideas and practices into their work with patients.

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Sketching the pathways for reintegrating spirituality into healthcare practices
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