Session Information
The articles selected for the series will be available to paid registrants and will be accessible through your APC profile approximately 1-2 business days before each session. We strongly recommend that all participants read them in preparation for each webinar.
Session 1
Infusing, Sustaining, and Replenishing Compassion in Health Care Organizations Through Compassion Practices
presented by Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, MDiv MPH BCC and Beth Muehlhausen PhD MDiv BCC LCSW
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am AKDT
- 9:00 am - 10:00 am HAST
60 minutes (1 CE hour plus reading/self-study hours - Methodology 8, Research)
Session Description
This first session in WJC Season 14 will explore how healthcare organizations cultivate compassion among their staff, impacting employee well-being and, indirectly, patient care. Through an in-depth discussion of McClelland and Vogus' (2021) multi-method qualitative study, we will examine organizational practices that "infuse, sustain, and replenish" compassion within hospital settings. This session offers chaplains practical strategies for understanding and leveraging organizational compassion practices and exploring how they can get involved in wider institutional compassion practices to foster a more inclusive, compassionate workplace.
Aims for Session 1:
- To identify and utilize organizational practices (e.g., hiring practices, rewards, support forums) that effectively promote compassion within their institutions to enhance staff well-being.
- To learn to analyze the study's multi-method qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews, observation, and archival data, gaining insights into conducting research on organizational practices.
- To explore the chaplain's unique role in supporting and promoting a culture of compassion among healthcare staff through existing organizational structures.
McClelland LE, Vogus TJ. Infusing, sustaining, and replenishing compassion in health care organizations through compassion practices. Health Care Manage Rev. 2021 Jan/Mar;46(1):55-65. doi: 10.1097/HMR.0000000000000240.
Session 2
Muslim Chaplains in the Clinical Borderlands: Authority, Function, and Identity
presented by Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, MDiv MPH BCC and Beth Muehlhausen PhD MDiv BCC LCSW
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am AKDT
- 8:00 am - 9:00 am HAST
60 minutes (1 CE hour plus reading/self-study hours - Methodology 8, Research)
Session Description
Spiritual care has traditionally been defined by dominant American religious norms, yet, chaplains are called upon to care for a diverse array of care recipients based on an increasingly diverse religious and spiritual landscape. There is much to be learned from Muslim healthcare chaplains in regard to how they interpret their authority, function and identity while being the public face of a minority religion. Muslim chaplains function in the border between religious leader and spiritual caregiver, between imam and chaplain. Muslim chaplains’ skillful, creative and professional care of non-Muslim persons, serves as an example for all chaplains caring for persons in a multicultural, multi religious world.
Aims for Session 2:
- To understand the use of qualitative interviews emphasizing grounded theory as an effective research method.
- To understand how Muslim healthcare chaplains navigate clinical borderlands in terms of authority, function and identity.
- To understand the implications for all chaplains as they navigate their own authority, function and identity in a diverse cultural and religious environment.
Laird LD, Abdul-Majid S. Muslim Chaplains in the Clinical Borderlands: Authority, Function, and Identity. J Relig Health. 2023 Feb;62(1):147-171. doi: 10.1007/s10943-022-01644-z. Epub 2022 Aug 31.
Session 3
Chaplain Interventions and Outcomes in Outpatient Settings: A Scoping Review
presented by Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, MDiv MPH BCC and Beth Muehlhausen PhD MDiv BCC LCSW
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am AKDT
- 8:00 am - 9:00 am HAST
60 minutes (1 CE hour plus reading/self-study hours - Methodology 8, Research)
Session Description
Session 3 will continue our exploration of different research methods, this time with a scoping literature review of chaplaincy in outpatient settings. One of the key recent innovations within the field of chaplaincy has been the expansion of spiritual care beyond the inpatient setting providing a continuum of care in outpatient settings. This discussion will focus on the spiritual care interventions, programs and outcomes related to this unique context. As chaplains juxtapose a ministry of presence with outcome oriented spiritual care, chaplains will hear about the differences in chaplain-led versus team-led interventions and programs.
Aims for Session 3:
- To educate chaplains on how to conduct a formal, publishable scoping literature review.
- To help chaplains understand the unique challenges and joys of providing spiritual care in outpatient settings.
- To help chaplains understand ministry of presence interventions (routine spiritual care) and formalized programs that emphasize outcomes in the context of outpatient settings.
Sprik PJ(1), Vanderstelt H(2), Valenti-Hein C(3), Denton J(4), Ashton D(5) Chaplain interventions and outcomes in outpatient settings: a scoping review. J Health Care Chaplain. 2024 Jun 5:1-23. doi: 10.1080/08854726.2024.2357042. Online ahead of print.
Session 4
Mapping Spiritual Care in Small and Critical Access Hospitals in a Faith-based US Health System
presented by Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, MDiv MPH BCC and Beth Muehlhausen PhD MDiv BCC LCSW
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am AKDT
- 8:00 am - 9:00 am HAST
60 minutes (1 CE hour plus reading/self-study hours - Methodology 8, Research)
Session Description
Session 4 will explore the provision of spiritual care in small hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs), including those serving primarily rural communities. With Schenk, Whipkey, and Fitchett's (2024) "mapping" study as a guide, we'll examine the various models of spiritual care delivery in these settings, including the roles of professional chaplains, local clergy, volunteers, and mission leaders. The session will address the challenges and opportunities of providing spiritual care in resource-constrained environments and discuss strategies for enhancing services. This session will further explore the role of “mapping” studies in understanding spiritual care staffing, delivery, and best practices in a variety of settings.
Aims for Session 4:
- To learn about spiritual care staffing and service provision in the unique contexts of small hospitals and CAHs.
- To explore mapping methodology, including the use of interview-assisted surveys and quantitative data analysis, and its importance for understanding the chaplaincy workforce and best practices.
- To identify the needs of spiritual care providers in small hospitals and CAHs, as well as in their own contexts effectively, and develop strategies for advocating for increased resources and support.
Schenk, K., Whipkey, T., & Fitchett, G. (2024). Mapping spiritual care in small and critical access hospitals in a faith-based US Health system. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2024.2354006
Session 5
The Language of Compassion: Hospital Chaplains' Compassion Capacity Reduces Patient Depression via Other-Oriented, Inclusive Language. Mindfulness (N Y)
presented by Cate Beaulieu-Desjardins, MDiv MPH BCC and Beth Muehlhausen PhD MDiv BCC LCSW
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am AKDT
- 9:00 am - 10:00 am HAST
60 minutes (1 CE hour plus reading/self-study hours - Methodology 8, Research)
Session Description
This rich final session of WJC Season 14 delves into the "active ingredients" of effective chaplaincy and spiritual care, focusing on how chaplains' compassion capacity relates to their communication skills and, in turn, patient outcomes. By exploring Mascaro et al.'s (2022) study, we'll explore how chaplains' self-reported compassion correlates with specific language used during patient consultations. Importantly, the study found that chaplain "clout," a linguistic marker of confidence, inclusivity, and other-centeredness, was significantly associated with lower patient depression scores. This session will introduce chaplains to the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) method, demonstrating its potential for analyzing chaplain interactions and improving communication skills.
Aims for Session 5:
- To learn how specific linguistic patterns employed by chaplains, such as pronoun use and positive affect, can convey compassion and impact patient well-being, focusing on the significant role of "clout" in chaplain effectiveness.
- To explore the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) method for analyzing text data, including its strengths and limitations, and consider its applications for research and reflective practice in chaplaincy.
- To discuss linguistic and other strategies for effectively demonstrating "clout" – confident, inclusive, and other-oriented communication – to enhance their interactions with patients and staff and patient outcomes on important measures such as depression.
Mascaro JS, Palmer PK, Willson M, et al. The Language of Compassion: Hospital Chaplains' Compassion Capacity Reduces Patient Depression via Other-Oriented, Inclusive Language. Mindfulness (N Y). 2023 Oct;14(10):2485-2498. doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01907-6. Epub 2022 May 30.