SPIRITUAL SUPPORT

Spiritual Support offers a space for deep listening and encouragement to draw on your heart’s wisdom (intuition) and sense of what is right for you. Each of us has our own sense of inner knowing that informs the way we go about our choices and decision making. Spiritual Support provides an opportunity to come together in our heart and spirit to encourage inner listening and awareness.
 
Spiritual Support in health care settings may also be referred to as religious care or pastoral care and relates to care of the spirit. For some people religious faith, culture and beliefs are an important means of expressing their spirituality; for others this is not the case. Any person, carer or family member of a person who is receiving palliative care from PHS can access Spiritual Support.

Spiritual support provides opportunities to participate in a variety of ways such as prayer, ritual, visualisation, meditation, journal writing, inspirational literature or scripture, labyrinth and drumming.
 
What is a Spiritual Support Worker in palliative care?
 
At PHS Spiritual Support Workers are employed within an interdisciplinary palliative care team as Allied Health professionals who have experience in palliative care training in one or more relevant fields. The role of the Spiritual Support Worker is to provide confidential listening and counselling supportive of each individual’s unique expression so that they may safely explore what is meaningful for them. Palliative care spiritual care is an active support offering reconciliation and healing during times of transition and change.
 
When would I use Spiritual Support?
 
It might be useful to discuss spiritual / faith issues when…

  • Exploring spiritual or faith issues
  • Asking questions: “Why is this happening to me?” “What’s life all about?” “How can God let me suffer?”
  • You are feeling lonely, worried, helpless, powerless, vulnerable or confused
  • You are feeling grateful, relieved or hopeful
  • You want someone to talk with about faith and beliefs or share significant spiritual experiences
  • Wanting to talk about life beyond death
  • Sharing hopes and fears
  • Dealing with issues of guilt and forgiveness
  • Rituals such as prayer, blessings, and services
  • You would like to celebrate an achievement or outcome
  • You would like someone to pray or meditate with you
  • You need help to attend to unfinished business
  • You would like to link with a religious/spiritual representative or community (sacrament, communion, anointing)
  • Seeking an opportunity for life review
  • You just need some support and encouragement

Accessing Spiritual Support
 
Most palliative care teams include a Spiritual Support Worker or someone who performs this role.

Contact PHS for further information.