Spiritual Dimensions of Pain
Research and clinical experience strongly suggests that many people in pain turn to spiritual guidance for help and would like their health care provider to discuss this with them. Sadly, this is a dimension that professionals often are very uncomfortable with and may believe that such discussion plays no role in healing. This author begs to differ. My patients usually are surprised and pleased when I broach the subject with them with such simple questions as: Are you a religious person? Are you a spiritual person? What...More
I recently watched the movie, The Education of Little Tree. After the death of his parents, Little Tree goes to live with his grandparents in the hills of Tennessee where they teach him "the way" of the Cherokee. This way is...
We begin a column this month that will address issues around spiritual care in the medical arena. The word spiritual has many differing connotations. People see spirituality in many different ways. We live in a very diverse country,...