“I appreciated everyone’s insight and honest comments. I thought many of the heartfelt conversations revealed a real need for open dialogue. I wonder how much of that would have occurred in a face-to-face meeting.”

—Rev. Bruce Frogge, pastor

Finding A Common Language

January 8-26, 2007
Facilitator: Kay T. Roberts, Ed.D., ARNP
12.0 contact hours

As society is recognizing the fragmentation of care for the body, mind, spirit, and soul, there is an increased need for resources that integrate spirituality as an important dimension of health and healing. Having trained separately, professionals in the religious, nursing, medical, social work, and therapeutic fields are challenged to find a common language in order to work collaboratively and expand their knowledge base in order to address the needs of persons.

This seminar provides the opportunity to participate in an interdisciplinary collaborative learning experience. Using email, members of the seminar group explore the issues of common language by reflecting on presented material in light of their own experience and context. Through this process the group benefits by learning from one another as well as from the presentations.

Presentations (one per week):

• "Battle Plan for Conquering Disciplinary Language … or How to Find Spirituality in Team Language"
  by Kay Roberts, Ed.D., A.R.N.P., Professor of Nursing, University of Louisville School of Medicine

• "Health Care and Spirituality: Listening, Assessing, Caring"
  by Dick Gilbert, D.Min., BCC, Director of Chaplaincy Services, Sherman Hospital, Elgin, Illinois

• "Finding A Common Language in Caring for Others"
  by Robert F. Sexton, M.D., M.Div.

1. Identify a common language among the various disciplines exploring the relationship between spirituality, health, and healing .

2. Facilitate multi-disciplinary dialogue .

3. Support person-centered care that gives thoughtful consideration to the parishioner, client, or patient's spirituality.

Registration: