Spirituality and Meaning Making in Chronic Illness: How Spiritual Caregivers Can Help People Navigate Long-Term Health Conditions

This book provides spiritual caregivers with insights and skills to support people with chronic health conditions, drawing from personal experiences and the story of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. It offers guidelines and exercises to facilitate healing.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 224 pages
\n Publication date: 21 February 2020
\n Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
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Many spiritual caregivers, including chaplains, spiritual directors, and clergy, are unaware of how they can support people with chronic health conditions. This comprehensive book combines insights on chronic illness with spiritual care skills and suggestions to enhance well-being for people living with long-term illness. Using a narrative approach, the author reflects on the stories of two women: Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, who travels from Kansas (a state of health) to Oz (an illness experience), alongside the author's personal experiences of managing an incurable autoimmune disease. Chapters will include guidelines and exercises that help equip caregivers to facilitate healing with people who live with long-term health conditions.

Introduction:
Spiritual caregivers play a vital role in the well-being of individuals with chronic health conditions. However, many of these caregivers are unaware of how to effectively support their clients on a spiritual and emotional level. This book aims to bridge that gap by providing insights on chronic illness, spiritual care skills, and practical suggestions to enhance the well-being of people living with long-term health conditions.

Chronic Illness Insights:
The book begins by exploring the complexities of chronic illness, including its physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. It discusses the challenges faced by individuals with chronic health conditions, such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. It also highlights the importance of understanding the unique experiences and perspectives of people with chronic illness and respecting their autonomy and choices.

Spiritual Care Skills:
In addition to providing insights on chronic illness, the book also offers practical strategies and skills for spiritual caregivers. It discusses the importance of empathy, active listening, and providing a safe and supportive environment for individuals with chronic health conditions. It also provides guidance on how to incorporate spiritual practices and beliefs into caregiving, such as meditation, prayer, and mindfulness.

Enhancing Well-being:
The book emphasizes the importance of holistic well-being and suggests ways to enhance it for individuals with chronic health conditions. It discusses the role of self-care, stress management, and finding meaning and purpose in life. It also provides resources and recommendations for support groups, counseling, and other forms of assistance.

Narrative Approach:
The author uses a narrative approach to convey the insights and experiences of individuals with chronic health conditions and spiritual caregivers. The stories of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and the author's personal experiences are woven together to provide a relatable and engaging perspective.

Conclusion:
This book is a valuable resource for spiritual caregivers, healthcare professionals, and individuals with chronic health conditions. It provides a comprehensive understanding of chronic illness, spiritual care skills, and practical suggestions to enhance well-being. By combining insights on chronic illness with spiritual care skills, this book aims to empower caregivers to provide holistic and compassionate support to their clients.

\n Weight: 266g\n
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 12 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781784509965\n \n