Addressing spiritual concerns in family medicine: a team approach

J Am Board Fam Pract. 2004 May-Jun;17(3):201-6. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.17.3.201.

Abstract

Spiritual conflicts and concerns often accompany serious illness, but many family physicians are slow to recognize these concerns or unsure how to address them. The case of a patient with spinal cord injury and who later developed an astrocytoma is used to illustrate a team approach that involved a family physician, a spiritual counselor, and a psychologist. Narrative writing exercises in which the patient was encouraged to tell his own story also played a role in treatment. The case report includes the patient's own description of his experience with spirituality and spiritual counseling, as well as the perspectives of the spiritual counselor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Counseling*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Family Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / psychology
  • Pastoral Care
  • Patient Care Team*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / psychology
  • Spirituality*