Introduction
Spiritual formation as a spiritual care provider includes the awareness and integration of one’s narrative history, socio-cultural identity, and spiritual/values-based orienting systems. ACPE defines the word “spiritual” as inclusive of theistic and non-theistic/values-based orientations.
One’s narrative history is at play in every care encounter. Paying attention to how one’s narrative history intersects with the care receiver’s story will influence the kind of care that is provided. Understanding one’s narrative history helps to identify the values and beliefs that shape spiritual care. Research from the behavioral sciences will help one understand and evaluate how one’s narrative history informs one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care.
Socio-Cultural Identity is a lens through which we see the world. Understanding one’s own socio-cultural identity and how that influences one’s provision of spiritual care is crucial to providing culturally respectful care. One’s socio-cultural identity will frequently intersect with the care receiver’s socio-cultural identity, and it is an important element present in spiritual care encounters. In the indicators, the phrase “Social Identity”, is used to refer to race, culture, social location, and all other aspects of identity.
Spiritual/Values-Based Orienting Systems provide the bedrock of spirituality. Orienting systems might include faith, religion, tradition, communities, and values. One’s orienting systems influence the way that one cares for others. Understanding the impact of one’s values/beliefs on others is crucial to providing spiritual care. This will also enable one to respect and honor the orienting system of others and recognize when one’s orienting systems might hinder and limit the provision of spiritual care.
Fulfillment of these outcomes will lead to a healthy use of self that integrates these areas to positively impact the provision of spiritual care.
Outcome 1: Narrative History
| Level IA | Level IB | Level IIA | Level IIB |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA.1 Identify formative and transformative experiences in one’s narrative history and their significance to one’s spiritual journey. | IB.1 Articulate how one’s narrative history informs one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care. | IIA.1 Use knowledge of behavioral sciences to understand how one’s narrative history informs one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care. | IIB.1 Evaluate one’s integration of how knowledge of behavioral sciences informs one’s practice of spiritual care through the lens of one’s narrative history. |
| IA.2 Articulate awareness upon reflection of when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s narrative history. | IB.2 Demonstrate awareness in the moment of when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s narrative history. |
Outcome 2: Socio-Cultural Identity
| Level IA | Level IB | Level IIA | Level IIB |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA.3 Demonstrate a knowledge of one’s social identity as related to spiritual care. | IB.3 Articulate how one’s social identity informs one’s approach to spiritual care. | IIA.2 Demonstrate how one’s social identity interacts with the care receiver’s social identity. | IIB.2 Evaluate one’s integration of how knowledge of social identity informs one’s practice of spiritual care. |
| IA.4 Articulate awareness upon reflection when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s social identity. | IB.4 Demonstrate awareness in the moment when a care encounter intersects with elements of one’s social identity. |
Outcome 3: Spiritual/Values-Based Orienting Systems
| Level IA | Level IB | Level IIA | Level IIB |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA.5 Describe how one’s values and beliefs about spiritual care are part of one’s orienting systems. | IB.5 Demonstrate how one’s orienting systems inform spiritual care encounters. | IIA.3 Demonstrate how one’s orienting system interacts with the care receiver’s orienting systems when providing spiritual care. | IIB.3 Evaluate how one’s orienting system interacts with the care receiver’s orienting systems when providing spiritual care. |