A Phenomenological Analysis of Spiritual Counseling: The Case of Morristown Medical Center Healthcare Chaplaincy (USA)

Abstract

Over the years, the foundation of spiritual counseling has evolved into a professional and systematic field in the United States (US), where it was first established. However, in Turkey, spiritual counseling is a newly emerging practice, and thus, a systematic structure has not yet been formed. Consequently, the theory and practice of spiritual counseling in the US hold significance for Turkey. This study aims to explore the perspectives and practices of Healthcare Chaplaincy practitioners in the US, a country with a well-established history of spiritual counseling services, in order to shed light on the field of spiritual counseling in Turkey by drawing from US practices. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interview techniques. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 chaplains from Morristown Medical Center Healthcare Chaplaincy unit between July 20th and 27th, 2018. The content analysis method was employed to elucidate the participants' experiences. A semi-structured interview form was used as the data collection tool, encompassing demographic information of the participants and their tenure as chaplains. Subsequently, the interview form addressed the participants' views on Healthcare Chaplaincy, their chaplaincy practice experiences, and suggestions of chaplains to spiritual counselors in Turkey. The findings indicate alignment between the participants' experiences and existing literature. An important highlight is the clinically oriented spiritual counseling education in the US that could serve as a model for Turkey. © 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.