What is a Chaplain and How Can They Help Navigate Grief, Loss, or Other Transitional Moments in Life?
Chaplaincy in Crisis: A Story of Empathy and Presence
As a chaplain, I've dedicated my career to providing compassionate spiritual guidance and care across diverse settings, from Level 1 trauma centers to those navigating mental health challenges, addiction, and personal trauma. This deep experience allows me to offer unwavering support during life's most challenging moments.
One particular night stands out during my time as a second-year chaplain resident in a trauma center in Charlotte, NC. This experience captures part of the heart of a chaplain's role: crisis intervention, bereavement support, and what we call “ministry of presence.”
I was on call when a "code blue" was called for Harry, a patient who had undergone significant back surgery. His initial code response stabilized him, but his situation remained critical. When a second "code blue" was called, I rushed back to his floor.
I found his wife, Susan, being led from the room by a nurse. The medical team needed space to perform life-saving measures on Harry. Susan wanted to stay right outside Harry's door, so we did. My immediate focus was to provide a calm, supportive presence. After introducing myself as a chaplain, I gently helped her to the floor where she wanted to sit. I explained my role: to stay with her and offer support through whatever unfolded.
As we sat together in that hallway, the weight of uncertainty settled in. Susan began to grieve in real time, because her heart was beginning to understand what might be coming. She was in shock and distress. I offered her a space to process her emotions, encouraging her to speak about Harry and express what she was feeling. She wailed and sobbed. I listened with deep empathy, recognizing a truth I learned early in my chaplaincy career: there are no easy answers for moments like these, but there is presence and support. And in a world that often underestimates the value of presence, it was moments like those with Susan early on in my career that helped me see its power.
Her sobs stopped abruptly, replaced by an eerie silence. The heaviness of the moment was palpable. Susan looked me dead in the face, her eyes filled with unforgettable intensity. "I just felt his spirit leave!" she said. "I felt him leave!"
Susan did feel Harry's spirit leave. He died not long after. I remained with Susan, an anchored presence, as she prepared for her final moments with Harry. I offered a prayer, then gave her private time in the room alone with Harry. We kept in touch, and I reached out on difficult anniversaries that first year. She often told me my presence made all the difference during the hardest moment of her life.
History of Chaplaincy
The term "chaplain" and the profession itself originate from an early Christian Church story. The story goes that St. Martin of Tours tore a piece of his cloak (a "capella" in Latin) off to give it to a beggar. This "little cloak" became a sacred object, guarded by a "cappellani," or chaplain.
Modern chaplains serving in academia, healthcare, the military, and prisons all trace their lineage to this tale. The first military chaplain was appointed during the Revolutionary War, followed by prison chaplains in the 1800s, healthcare chaplains in the mid-1900s, with academic chaplains being the newest to the field.
Hospital chaplaincy, rooted in clinical education and observation, owes its origins to Anton Boisen. Often called the "father" of healthcare chaplaincy, Boisen's own journey from psychiatric patient to leader in this field is remarkable. After his psychiatric hospitalizations, he concluded that suffering, particularly psychological suffering, could be a catalyst for awakening and transformation. This idea remains central to the work of professional chaplains.
Hired by a Massachusetts hospital administrator, Boisen developed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), a rigorous training program required for all professional chaplains. His goal was to address non-organic physical ailments as a "sickness of the soul." Boisen's time in psychiatric units convinced him that people were suffering in their spirits, and that tending to the soul could heal not only their spirits but also their minds and bodies. He envisioned chaplains doing this vital work.
What Is Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and Why Does it Matter?
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is experiential training chaplains undergo in an institutional setting following graduation from a master's-level program. My CPE was completed in a Veterans Affairs hospital and a civilian hospital, and it involved an intentional, deep examination of Self—including traumas, grief, healing, theological beliefs, identities, misperceptions about various people groups and religious views, and so forth—all while equipping me with essential skills and knowledge to become a solid chaplain.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is experiential training chaplains undergo in an institutional setting following graduation from a master's-level program. My CPE was completed in a Veterans Affairs hospital and a civilian hospital, and it involved an intentional, deep examination of Self—including traumas, grief, healing, theological beliefs, identities, misperceptions about various people groups and religious views, and so forth—all while equipping me with essential skills and knowledge to become a solid chaplain.
CPE is structured into units consisting of peer processing groups, educational didactics, patient visitation, required readings and reports, self and peer evaluations, and perhaps the hallmark of CPE, verbatims—case studies on patient visits. Boisen believed there was nothing more informative than the “living human document”—the encounter with a patient and subsequent reflection. It was through this that we as chaplains learned about ourselves, our own unresolved pain and suffering, our presuppositions, and how we might conduct a visit differently upon critical reflection.
For example, I recall a young chaplain intern who evangelized a patient during a visit and converted him to Christianity—a significant deviation from chaplaincy principles. During her case study, our CPE certified educator, along with peer reflective feedback, led her into an examination of what drove her desire to convert this patient, exposing the conflict between the spirit of hospital chaplaincy (which is pluralistic and patient-centric) and her own theological beliefs.
But what about one’s own personal theological views as a chaplain? Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) prepares chaplains to serve in highly diverse environments. This training often invites critical reflection on theological beliefs that might otherwise lead to a biased view of certain individuals or groups. The ultimate goal of chaplaincy is not to proselytize or convert, but rather to meet each patient where they are and offer support and guidance accordingly. Professionally trained chaplains excel at this.
However, it's important to acknowledge that some individuals in chaplaincy roles may use their position to advance personal agendas or theological beliefs—something to be aware of when working with a chaplain.
What difference does CPE make? A world of difference, I assure you! The CPE process is what separates a congregational leader and a trained chaplain. The difference is significant, especially when ministering to those in distress.
For instance, consider a pastor encountering a grieving widow.
Their immediate inclination might be to offer comfort through scripture. While well-intentioned, this approach often differs from that of a CPE-trained chaplain. A trained chaplain will have an entirely different approach that is grounded in sitting with her in the discomfort of loss, making space for lament and hard questions, and will work with her to navigate the grief healing journey ahead. A professional chaplain will also avoid sometimes-offensive statements like, "God doesn't put more on you than you can bear," or "God needed another angel in heaven," choosing instead to bear witness to the raw lament.
Some chaplains, like myself, who have further specialization, might help individuals in reconnecting with their True Self, our Essence that is often lost and covered up by grief. They may help the bereft engage with the part of themselves carrying the brunt of the pain and offer specific suggestions for working with that part. Additionally, they might introduce meditative exercises to help individuals manage their pain more effectively. This in-depth work can extend over several months, offering sustained support.
What are the qualifications of a chaplain?
Professionally trained chaplains, much like other helping professionals, must meet rigorous educational and qualifying standards. For employment with reputable organizations, chaplains need specific qualifications. I emphasize "reputable" here because some organizations claim to employ "chaplains" who lack essential qualifications such as ordination, theological education, and completion of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) process.
To be considered a professional chaplain, individuals typically need a Master of Divinity or a Master of Theological Studies degree, ordination, and a certain amount of CPE. Chaplains working in institutional settings like healthcare, prisons, or the military also require endorsement from their ordaining faith group. This endorsement is an additional step beyond ordination, where the chaplain's denomination essentially vouches for their good standing and suitability for the role.
How can a chaplain help?
Emotional and Spiritual Support:
Listening and Presence: Chaplains offer a non-judgmental, compassionate presence and a safe space for individuals to express their fears, anxieties, grief, hopes, and questions about life, illness, death, or personal challenges. They listen reflectively, helping people process complex emotions.
Coping Strategies: Depending on whether or not they have had specialization training, they can offer practical guidance and coping strategies to manage stress and anxiety, which might include mindfulness techniques, relaxation, or helping individuals find meaning and purpose.
Crisis Intervention: In times of crisis, such as a terminal diagnosis, unexpected loss, or traumatic event, chaplains provide immediate emotional and spiritual support.
Grief and Bereavement Support: They offer support before, during, and after a loss, helping individuals and families navigate the waves of grief and find comfort.
Addressing Spiritual Needs and Questions:
Meaning and Purpose: Chaplains help individuals explore their values, where they find meaning and purpose in their lives, and how to make sense of challenging situations.
Spiritual Distress: They are uniquely qualified to detect and address spiritual distress, helping individuals identify sources of suffering and ways to improve their spiritual health.
Religious Support (as requested): While interfaith, chaplains can provide religious support if desired, such as leading prayers, reading sacred texts, facilitating religious ceremonies (e.g., baptisms, communion), or connecting individuals with clergy from their specific faith tradition.
Life Review: They can help individuals reflect on their past, relationships, and accomplishments, particularly for those nearing the end of life.
Advocacy and Communication:
Patient Advocacy: In healthcare settings, chaplains can act as a liaison between patients, families, and medical staff, helping to explain medical information, hospital procedures, and advocating for a patient's wishes, including advance directives.
Ethical Consultation: They can facilitate discussions around ethical concerns, especially regarding end-of-life decisions, and help individuals integrate their spiritual beliefs with their medical situation.
Support for Staff: Chaplains also provide crucial emotional and spiritual support to staff members in institutions who may experience high stress levels and burnout in demanding environments.
Community Connection:
Resource Connection: Chaplains can help individuals connect with community resources, support groups, or their personal faith leaders.
Celebrating Milestones: They can also be present for positive events, like the birth of a child or a patient's discharge after treatment.
Resources for Further Reading
Here are some resources you might find helpful:
For General Chaplaincy Information & Professional Organizations
ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education): The primary accrediting body for CPE.
https://acpe.edu/ (Their main site, which has a directory of accredited programs)
Association of Professional Chaplains (APC): A leading professional organization for chaplains.
National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC): For those interested in Catholic chaplaincy.
Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC): For those interested in Jewish chaplaincy.
Spiritual Care Association (SCA): A multidisciplinary, international professional membership association for spiritual care providers.
https://www.spiritualcareassociation.org/ (Part of Healthcare Chaplaincy Network)
Healthcare Chaplaincy Network (HCCN): A global nonprofit organization that offers spiritual care-related information and resources.
For Grief and Bereavement Support
The Compassionate Friends: Offers support to bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings.
National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC): Lists grief support service providers who serve children and teens specifically.
Center for Loss & Life Transition (Dr. Alan Wolfelt): Offers resources and insights on grief.
What's Your Grief?: Provides articles, resources, and an online community for those experiencing grief.
GriefShare: A network of Christian-based grief support groups.
Final Reflection & Invitation
If you found this entry helpful, or if you have had a meaningful experience with a chaplain along your journey, please leave a comment below. This exploration of chaplaincy highlights more than just a profession; it reveals a profound dedication to compassionate care. From the unexpected depths of a trauma center to the structured learning of CPE, the core mission remains: to offer presence, guidance, and understanding without judgment. It's my privilege to serve in this capacity, witnessing the depth of the human spirit and providing support as individuals transform their suffering into resilience and growth.
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