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Ford K, Van Denend J, DeViva J, Cooke J, Klee A. ACTing Spiritually: Integrating Spiritual Care and Mental Health Care within a US Department of Veterans Affairs Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2024:10.1007/s10943-024-02065-w. [PMID: 38909328 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-024-02065-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
As a part of the VA's interprofessional fellowship in psychosocial rehabilitation, the authors developed an 8-week spirituality group manual, ACTing Spiritually, which incorporates principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) into a spirituality group protocol. The group, administered weekly as possible for 28 weeks on an inpatient psychiatric unit at a veterans affairs (VA) medical center in West Haven, CT, aimed to incorporate veterans' spirituality into their mental health treatment through concepts of acceptance, values, mindfulness, and committed action. ACTing Spiritually ran in tandem with a basic ACT group and the two groups had comparable average group sizes, suggesting interest in ACTing Spiritually similarly compares to interest in a basic ACT group in this context. In addition, development of the group yielded several qualitative findings, including a discussion of the similarities and differences between ACT and spiritual care, clinical gains for chaplains conducting the group, and clinical tensions that arose through the process of integration. The study provided preliminary evidence of the potential feasibility and acceptability of ACTing Spiritually. Next steps should include a formal evaluation of its potential efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
- Chaplain Services, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA.
- Chaplaincy Care & Education, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, USA.
| | - Jessica Van Denend
- Mental Health Service Line, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Jason DeViva
- Mental Health Service Line, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - James Cooke
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- Chaplain Services, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA
| | - Anne Klee
- Mental Health Service Line, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
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Lee-Tauler SY, Grammer J, LaCroix JM, Walsh AK, Clark SE, Holloway KJ, Sundararaman R, Carter CKM, Crouterfield CB, Hazlett CGR, Hess CRM, Miyahara CJM, Varsogea CCE, Whalen CC, Ghahramanlou-Holloway M. Pilot Evaluation of the Online 'Chaplains-CARE' Program: Enhancing Skills for United States Military Suicide Intervention Practices and Care. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023; 62:3856-3873. [PMID: 37612485 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01882-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Chaplains frequently serve as first responders for United States military personnel experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The Chaplains-CARE Program, a self-paced, e-learning course grounded in suicide-focused cognitive behavioral therapy principles, was tailored for United States military chaplains to enhance their suicide intervention skills. A pilot program evaluation gathered 76 Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and international military chaplain learners' responses. Most learners indicated that the course was helpful, easy to use, relevant, applicable, and that they were likely to recommend it to other chaplains. Based on open-ended responses, one-quarter (25.0%) of learners indicated that all content was useful, and over one-quarter (26.3%) of learners highlighted the usefulness of the self-care module. One-third (30.3%) of learners reported the usefulness of the interactive e-learning features, while others (26.3%) highlighted the usefulness of chaplains' role play demonstrations, which portrayed counseling scenarios with service members. Suggested areas of improvement include specific course adaptation for VA chaplains and further incorporation of experiential learning and spiritual care principles. The pilot findings suggest that Chaplains-CARE Online was perceived as a useful suicide intervention training for chaplains. Future training can be enhanced by providing experiential, simulation-based practice of suicide intervention skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yeon Lee-Tauler
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814-4799, USA
| | - Joseph Grammer
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814-4799, USA
| | - Jessica M LaCroix
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814-4799, USA
| | - Adam K Walsh
- Defense Suicide Prevention Office, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marjan Ghahramanlou-Holloway
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814-4799, USA.
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Hayes SC, Hofmann SG, Ciarrochi J. The Idionomic Future of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: What Stands Out From Criticisms of ACT Development. Behav Ther 2023; 54:1036-1063. [PMID: 37863584 PMCID: PMC10589451 DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2023.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The present special section critical of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Training (ACT in either case) and its basis in psychological flexibility, relational frame theory, functional contextualism, and contextual behavioral science (CBS) contains both worthwhile criticisms and fundamental misunderstandings. Noting the important historical role that behavior analysis has played in the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tradition, we argue that CBS as a modern face of behavior analytic thinking has a potentially important positive role to play in CBT going forward. We clarify functional contextualism and its link to ethical behavior, attempting to clear up misunderstandings that could seriously undermine genuine scientific conversations. We then examine the limits of using syndromes and protocols as a basis for further developing models and methods; the role of measurement and processes of change in driving progress toward more personalized interventions; how pragmatically useful concepts can help basic science inform practice; how both small- and large-scale studies can contribute to scientific progress; and how all these strands can be pulled together to benefit humanity. In each area, we argue that further progress will require major modifications in our traditional approaches to such areas as psychometrics, the conduct of randomized trials, the analysis of findings using traditional normative statistics, and the use of data from diverse cultures and marginalized populations. There have been multiple generational shifts in our field's history, and a similar shift appears to be taking place once again.
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Saliba SM, Fält B, O'Connell D, Sjöberg T, Sørensen UBH, Steegen M, Turner J, Vandenhoeck A. The Importance of Timing, Fundamental Attitudes, and Appropriate Interventions as Key Aspects of Chaplain Suicide Prevention: A European Expert Panel of Mental Health Chaplains. THE JOURNAL OF PASTORAL CARE & COUNSELING : JPCC 2023; 77:113-122. [PMID: 36451598 DOI: 10.1177/15423050221141047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
An expert panel consisting of six mental health chaplains from several European countries was convened to ascertain the specific contribution of mental health chaplains to suicide prevention, and to generate good practices for suicide prevention. Three themes emerged: (1) the importance of timing; (2) fundamental attitudes of the chaplain towards the patient, and (3) appropriate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Martijn Steegen
- University Parish, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Josh Turner
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Hertfordshire, England
| | - Anne Vandenhoeck
- Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; European Research Institute for Chaplains in Healthcare, Leuven, Belgium
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