NACC Webinar: Post Traumatic Growth Tools for Spiritual Care

Presented by M. Therese Lysaught, PhD and Beth Reece, MDiv, BCC

Thursday, June 18, 2020 – 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Program Summary
Trauma from illness affects patients physically, spiritually and emotionally. Chaplains enter this chaos and devastation of trauma, called to provide patients with spiritual care. Research shows that Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), positive change that can follow traumatic events, is possible, even for many suffering with PTSD. PTG tools of story-telling, community, hope, creativity, and faith may provide personal strength, closer relationships, greater appreciation of life, acceptance of new possibilities, and spiritual development for 50 to 80% of trauma survivors despite physical impairment. In this workshop, chaplains will actively explore theology, definition, and facilitation of these tools in order to enhance pastoral care interventions.

Program Objectives
As a result of this webinar, participants will:

1. Understand the definition and potential outcomes of Post-Traumatic Growth.
2. Explore Post-Traumatic Growth tools that encourage resilience, strengthen faith, and provide transformation, and how these align with spiritual care.
3. Interactively explore how chaplains can facilitate these tools in a variety of patient-care settings.

NACC Certification Competencies Covered by the Webinar: ITP3, PPS2, PPS5, PPS6, PPS9, PAS9

About the Presenters
M. Therese Lysaught, PhD, is Professor of Catholic moral theology and health care ethics at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Healthcare Leadership at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine, with a secondary appointment at Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies. In addition to consulting with health care systems on issues surrounding mission, theology, and ethics, her major research foci have included global health, the anointing of the sick, genetics, gene therapy, human embryonic stem cell research, and issues at the end-of-life. Her most recent book is Catholic Bioethics and Social Justice: The Praxis of US Health Care in a Globalized World (Liturgical Press, 2018). In addition, she is the author of Caritas in Communion: Theological Foundations of Catholic Health Care (Catholic Health Association, 2014), and co-editor of On Moral Medicine: Theological Perspectives in Medical Ethics, 3rd edition (Eerdmans, 2012) and Gathered for the Journey: Moral Theology in Catholic Perspective (Eerdmans, 2007).

Beth Reece is Manager of Spiritual Care at the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab in downtown Chicago. It is the first-ever “translational” research hospital, where all staff work together in the same space, applying research in real time to physical and spiritual rehabilitation. Beth’s research has centered around self-care for staff and most recently, chaplain use of post traumatic growth tools for patients. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Loyola Institute of Pastoral Studies and is certified through the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Register here