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Spiritual Care Services

Who is our Spiritual Care Provider?

Katherine Henderson, MRP, M.Div., BCC., serves as the Senior Clinical Chaplain for Outpatient Spiritual Care. At the DOC, she sits in the far corner cubicle in the preceptor room, and is available for in-clinic or telehealth visits. Katherine works closely with the DOC social work team to coordinate emotional / spiritual care for patients, families and staff.

Why do we have integrated spiritual care at the DOC?

Because our patient population has a high degree of spiritual distress. Chaplains are specifically trained to recognize and treat symptoms of spiritual distress in order to help alleviate suffering and increase persons’ ability to navigate challenging health and life circumstances. They are certified professionals who support people of all belief systems and worldviews.

What services does our chaplain provide?

Spiritual care by the DOC Chaplain may include:

Spiritual assessment and tailored interventions (initial and follow-on care)
Individual and group bereavement care (see details below)
De-stigmatizing and bridging to mental health services
Advance directives outreach & coordination for patients at high risk of hospitalization

When to refer to the DOC Chaplain?

Consider a chaplain referral if your patient is:

Exhibiting symptoms of existential or spiritual distress, including: Despair / Hopelessness; Loneliness; Guilt or Shame; Fear / Anxiety; Anger; Helplessness
Recovering from a recent a traumatic loss or other traumatic event. *Early referrals to chaplain / social work can prevent downstream post-traumatic symptoms*
Grieving a loss or life change
Struggling to find meaning or purpose
Seeking a listening ear
In need of prayer or spiritual counsel
Struggling with moral/spiritual questions about goals of care or advance directives

*Facilitating a “quick hello” with the Chaplain in clinic is VERY beneficial prior to later outreach!*

What’s the best way to refer?

Best (real time): Find Katherine in her work space (back corner of preceptor room) for in-clinic referrals
Next best (real time): Secure Chat
Also good (asynchronous): Send an InBasket message, or copy Katherine on a chart note and she will follow up

What types of grief support does the DOC offer?

Individual Care: Chaplain Katherine offers individual bereavement support for patients who are grieving. This is especially indicated when patients are navigating the initial “acute” phase of their grief, or when they continue to struggle after a sudden or traumatic loss.
Group Sessions: The DOC also offers a monthly virtual gathering for grief education and support called Let’s Talk About Grief. This is a no-cost, drop-in program with rolling admission throughout the year. It is designed for shorter-term care with emphasis on grief education and connection to community-based grief support resources.
We need YOUR help to connect with interested patients! We invite any and all staff members to refer patients to Chaplain Katherine, Jan or Elissa for a warm introduction, screening and individual scheduling or group onboarding. Ideally, come find one of us so we can do a quick introduction in clinic. Otherwise, send patient info via secure chat or InBasket message, and we’ll take it from there!

How does the DOC Chaplain support our staff?

DOC Chaplain interacts informally with staff, providers and learners at the clinic to offer relational care and processing of intense clinical experiences including patient loss. Katherine also provides spiritual care programming for staff, including:

Monthly Remembrance Huddles to honor DOC patients who have died
Periodic Tea for the Soul events
Annual Grief Awareness Week activities

Interested in the intersection of spirituality and medicine?

Check out our inter-disciplinary research projects, often inspired and led by our residents!

DOC Thrive Guide