Practitioners
Spiritual Health Association supports spiritual care practitioners and other health professionals to ensure the provision of quality spiritual care in health services.
What is Spiritual Care?
Spiritual care is the provision of assessment, counselling, support and ritual in matters of a person’s beliefs, traditions, values and practices, enabling the person to access their own spiritual resources. When spiritual needs are recognised and responded to as an integral part of person-centred care an essential contribution is made to people’s health and wellbeing.
- Assessment: Work with patients to understand their unique spiritual needs.
- Counselling: Provide a safe space for patients to explore their spirituality in relation to health and wellbeing.
- Support: Offer emotional and spiritual support throughout a patient’s healthcare journey.
- Ritual: Facilitate rituals that bring comfort and meaning, respecting all faiths and traditions.
Benefits of Quality Spiritual Care
Recognising and addressing spiritual needs is integral to person-centered care. It demonstrably improves a patient’s:
- Overall health and wellbeing
- Coping mechanisms
- Decision-making
