What Do I Say? Talking with patients about spirituality
by Elizabeth Johnson Taylor
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 West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Foundation Press 2007This book is an excellent introduction for health care practitioners in dealing with spiritual issues common in clinical practice. Elizabeth Johnston Taylor presents the subject clearly, enhanced with quotes, cartoons and pointers towards further reading. I particularly like her exercises for readers to explore and examine their own spiritual beliefs and awarenesses, and to practice varieties of ways they can respond to patients’ spiritual issues.
This book addresses the question of how to form healing verbal responses to patients’ expressions of spiritual pain. Although offering healing verbal responses is a fundamental skill for health care professionals, it is not the only approach for nurturing the spirit. Being silently present, reading inspirational materials, offering prayer, and encouraging journal writing or dream analysis are examples of other approaches. (p. 5)
Thoughtful quotes help the reader consider these issues. For instance,
The compassionate man says, “I love you because I understand you.” The empathizing man says, “I know how you feel.” The sympathizing man says, “I feel for you.” Empathy and sympathy are… devoid of healing power. They have a temporary soothing effect, but they do not heal.
– T. Hora (Johnson, p. 14).
I don’t happen to agree with this quote, but it did give me excellent food for thought. (My own belief is that empathy is a necessary part of compassion, and that it can be very healing for people to experience empathetic listening.)
On clearing caregivers’ issues, so that they can be present with the people they are helping:
Larson described these issues as “interpersonal allergies.” Such allergies include the fears of: 1) our own death, 2) being hurt, 3) hurting others, and 4) being engulfed by others’ problems.
– David Larson (Johnson, p. 18)
While issues such as praying with patients are suggested, nowhere is there a hint of pushing the practitioners’ beliefs upon the patient. On the contrary, Taylor repeatedly alerts readers maintain their neutrality and respect in dealing with patients’ spiritual and religious issues.
The book comes in a version that includes a DVD with the same title, but nowhere is there mention of what is on the DVD. (I therefore gave this a pass, not knowing whether it would be of interest or worth my time.) An index would also have enhanced this useful book.
References:
Hora, T. Beyond the Dream: Awakening to Reality, 2nd ed. New York: Crossroads, 1996, p. 79.
Larson, D.G. The Helper’s Journey: Working with People Facing Grief, Loss, and Life-Threatening Illness. Champaign, IL: Research Press 1993.
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