Spiritual Health

Spiritual health is a key part of holistic patient-centered care. As one writer put it,

Being religious or spiritual is part of who many people are—it forms the root of their identity as human beings and gives life meaning and purpose.

All the more so when medical illness threatens life or way of life.

Spiritual Assessment

Hospital patients want to be asked about their spirituality and have it addressed in their care plan.

Easy, right?  – Not so fast. The problem is that spirituality isn’t easy to talk about at all.

1. Clinicians and volunteers lack experience taking a spiritual history
2. Spirituality is a very personal topic
3. It’s uncertain how to handle spiritual issues that might arise
4. It takes a lot of time to assess and and treat spiritual distress

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred (Puchalski et al, 2013).

And when patients describe their spirituality they usually tell different kinds of personal stories. So, along with spiritual screening, history and assessment tools, there is increasing interest in narrative medicine and narrative inquiry to help understand spirituality more fully in the care of patients who are acutely ill, chronically ill, and the frail elderly.

That’s why I’m here

Spirituality is the focus of my clinical work and original research as a certified health care chaplain and registered psychotherapist in palliative care, seniors rehabilitation, and complex medical care.

For nearly twenty years I’ve been helping hospital patients and their loved ones feel heard.

Grounded in meaningful stories from my clinical experience, my goal is to talk about spiritual care in theory and practice in creative ways that make a difference.

Based on my published research, I offer presentations and workshops customized to meet the specific needs of different groups, organizations and associations.

My passion is engaging others in shared reflection and dialogue leading to new insights, learning and action.

Let’s Talk!

Talk to me about:

• My book How to Be an Even Better Listener
• Spiritual care in hospice and palliative care
• Improving the quality of listening & communication skills in health care relationships
• Catholic pastoral theology
• Prison ministry volunteering
• Book sales about spiritual health, grief & bereavement, and social justice
• Speaking at your next event

For availability and booking inquiries, please contact me by filling out the form below or email me directly at robert.mundle@utoronto.ca

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I look forward to hearing from you.

~ Robert

Robert Mundle, MDiv, STM, ThM, CSCP, RP