The Incarnation is central to Christian theology. Christ is both God and man. Through this miracle, Christ redeemed humanity. However, the theology over the ages has dealt with many heretical challenges to the nature of Jesus and both His Divinity and His Humanity.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Christian Counselor.
Funerals play a critical role in the grief process. They allow an individual to mourn publicly, find support and acknowledge the loss. It is an important step in the process but for the griever it is only the beginning. After the funeral and wake, many leave with condolences, but the individual griever is left with a year long process of adjusting to life without the loved one.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Training Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Grief Counseling Certification. Also please review AIHCP’s Funeral Associate Program
Talking about one’s grief is an important process in healing. Individuals need to share grief and experiences with others to help heal. When individuals discuss grief they can hear themselves talk and receive feedback in regards to their emotions.
It can sometimes be difficult to talk about grief. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
The article, “How to Talk About Your Grief” by Rachel Maier discusses how to better talk about one’s grief. She states,
“When you lose a child, it’s hard to express the oceanic depths of your heartache. I know this because I lost my child, too. Over time, I’ve gained perspective and learned how to talk about it. Talking about my loss was like lighting a lantern in a dark cave. It helped me escape the void of despair and begin to heal. Now, I’d like to help you do the same. Here are some tips to try, based on things I’ve learned while navigating how to talk about my loss.”
Please also a review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.
Grief Counselors are called to respond to grief. They are trained to listen to others and respond to the grieving process. Grief Counselors can help guide individuals through this maze of a process and help them find adjustment to the loss. Society also responds to grief in different ways.
Society responds to grief in many ways. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program
The article, “Responding to the Grief of Others” by Grant Brenner looks closer at how grief is understood within society and how to respond. He states,
“Loss becomes more and more common as we get older. The same coping responses that serve us well at one time—disengaging from emotion, focusing on moving forward—may later lead to struggle as those adaptations characteristically pose barriers to self-awareness and connection with others. Healthy grieving requires not only drawing upon personal resources but also receiving appropriate support from those around us. This includes cultural responses to death and dying.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional needs. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.
Communication is key in any form of counseling, especially in spiritual mentorship. Any dialogue or advising or counseling finds its basis in sound communication skills. Communication is essential to express ideas and information but the way one communicates is essential in any type of counseling or ministry. An individual who is brash or abrupt can squash any delicate spiritual child, while also one who is prideful and all knowing can turn one away from any meaningful conversation.
St Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises established a variety of norms and practices in how to communicate, counsel and advise. His extensive knowledge of the human condition and how to help others through counseling and guidance are essential tools for any counselor. Unfortunately, many outside the his tradition, rarely read his works or are able to see the universal applications of his practices to spiritual life and counseling itself.
St Ignatius Loyola established some basic rules for communication which are essential in counseling. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Training
In this blog, we will shortly look at some important elements of communication and how to apply them towards counseling and spiritual mentorship. In addition, we will look at how an advisor can help his or her spiritual child through trial and tribulations from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola.
St Ignatius’s first rule of communication is to understand the immense value of it. The purpose of life itself through speech and motions are to communicate. Life itself depends upon communication for social interaction to exist. Without communication, love itself cannot even expressed at any level. Hence communication and entering into communication beyond the mere social constructs are an act of opening oneself to another. This is especially more intense in counseling where communication helps to guide and heal. A mutual conversation hence holds to both parties a responsibility to each other, to hear each other and to be watchful and attentive.
In communicating, Ignatius emphasizes the importance of slow speech via his second rule. Care of speech and understanding of the words that come forth one’s mouth is important when counseling especially. So many times, individuals speak rapidly lead to misuse of words and tend to create an image of a person who would rather only hear oneself. In communication, especially counseling, words should be deliberate and thoughtful in their process. When speaking of theology or pastoral matters, it is even more important to hold to these standards.
The third rule, emphasizes the critical importance of listening during communication and counseling. Only through listening and silence can one come to a sound conclusion the emotions and feelings of the other person. Ignatius asks, what is the person saying and could I repeat the words correctly? After hearing the words, the counselor should feel the emotions connecting to the words themselves. Why does a person feel this way? Finally, Ignatius looks to understand the will behind the feelings and if the words match the feelings themselves.
In response, does one feel what anything in response to the words? Does one recognize what the other says and finally, what should one do in the conversation itself? Should one speak or remain silent regarding the information and conversation shared?
Ignatius’s fourth rule of silence deals with freedom from prejudice or bias. When one enters into a conversation, preconceived notions can poison a conversation. If a Christian meets with an atheist or if political, a rival from another party, pre-conceived notions can prevent a productive conversation. Ignatius points out that such pre decided notions prevent true movement within the conversation. One either feels the other already has conclusions made and the decision is already sealed. Additionally, when one dismisses pre-conceived bias, it shows respect for the other and opens them to more solutions. One must remember, no one side rarely holds all the cards, and that weaknesses can exist in both arguments. Ultimately, an understanding and respect must persist in such conversations.
Ignatius’s fifth rule of communication is avoiding the fallacy of an appeal to authority. In all critical thinking courses, the appeal to authority can be a double edged sword. When properly cited and utilized it can strengthen an argument but when it is arbitrarily utilized without reason or understanding, it can weaken the person’s argument and also in regards to conversation, create a dead end without any impasse.
Ignatius’s sixth rule of communication calls for modest lucidity. When one needs to express something and state something and cannot remain silent, it is critical to express oneself calmly and with humility. Arrogance, pride and a demanding presence creates a hostile environment in conversation and counseling. It is important to express feelings and facts but with a gentleness that soothes instead of stings.
Finally, Ignatius states in his seventh rule that enough time must be given to a conversation. Distractions, time restrictions and a rushed conversation devalues the communicative process.
In all conversation, Ignatius calls for love, humility and patience. He also calls for a mutual reverence to each other. In this a true listening or encounter can take place between individuals during the conversation and counseling process. Built into this mutual exchange is the necessity of trust. In counseling, trust is one of the most key cornerstone principles. A trust of non judgement and trust of fidelity to the secrecy of the conversation. Through trust, healing can take place because without trust, there is no revelation between individuals.
It is important to pay attention to differences as a counselor and mimic their characteristics. If one speaks lively, let that dictate, if one speaks more melancholic, then create that atmosphere. It is important for the setting to reflect the comfort and conversating styles of the individual. When dealing with more confrontation, Ignatius is motivated by love and to go where the other emotionally is. If the person is in the rain, then walk into the rain with them is an example he used. By this, we do not break down the door, but carefully with love of the soul, listen and when duty demands, speak with love and prepare oneself when confronted with those of great difference. Sometimes, instruction with love is needed, but sometimes agreeing with what is agreed upon and silence over what is not can be beneficial in the long run. Hence in advising, Ignatius found it best to be attentive in listening and cautious and gentle in speech. Attentive especially to the inner particularities of the individual.
How we communicate as counselors is important. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification
Ignatius also saw the adviser and counselor as a instrument of God or pen of God. The advisor follows rational rules of counseling and communication but is also always open to the spirit of the divine to help an individual. In essence, it is an encounter of love. As an adviser, Ignatius emphasized aiding others with the stirring of the spirits, discernment of the spirits and helping individuals through the spiritual journey itself. These are all essential elements of Christian Counseling and Christian Mentorship.
If you would like to learn more about AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification, then please review and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.
In grief we deal with many emotions and its difficult to sometimes discuss it or experience it. We work through grief at our own pace and own way. It is because of this, it is important to avoid being bullied in grief and to have our own set of boundaries. We have discussed Grief Bullies in the past.
Grief bullies are individuals who attempt to impose their style of grieving on an individual. They also can try to diminish the grief of a person as not important or relevant. These individuals are an issue in themselves, but being able to stand up for oneself and set boundaries are critical. Grief boundaries are important in grieving and especially during the Holiday season. These are the times, when individuals, either grief bullies or good intentioned individuals may push the issue.
Emotional boundaries are important to begin with. In every part of life, it is critical to set boundaries. Whether at work, school or with friends, it is important not to allow individuals to push one around. While it is OK to help others, to be flexible and understanding, it is equally important to have boundaries that prevent individuals from imposing their will or impeding upon one’s limits. Hence it is important to have boundaries and also important to enforce those boundaries.
Help for grief is good but you can have boundaries in how you express with other people. Ultimately it is up to you. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
Boundaries can be enforced without hostility. They can be laid out calmly but firmly to individuals who test those grounds. Usually, individuals who unknowingly push a boundary only need told once, while others may need reminded more than that but it is important to hold firm to boundaries. Grief is no exception.
What’s Your Grief discussed a variety of ideas on Grief Boundaries in one of their most recent blogs. Some important information to take from it are as follows.,
In establishing a boundary, be clear, firm, and communicate it. Do not apologize for it, but be prepared to face questions that you owe no answer for. In addition, let the individual know of consequences when boundaries are crossed and be prepared to enforce it. In addition, be prepared to feel the natural discomfort that sometimes comes with standing up for oneself. Individuals worth keeping in your life, will understand.
In regards to grief, while it is sometimes good to take help, it is OK, if you are not ready for that help and it is OK to decline that help. Let others know, some days you may not feel that great and if you need time alone to respect that. Grief can make one feel unable to participate in going to an event or hanging with a friend. In these cases, it is OK to back out especially when you are first dealing with the sting of loss. Do not allow grief bullies to keep you in or keep you out.
Also feel free to dismiss questions that may seem to soon or intruding. You are not obligated to answer questions regarding your personal life. For instance, if dating seems too son, feel free to dismiss the question. In addition to this, one’s boundary should be able to decline advice and just ask one to simply listen. Sometimes, advice is not ready to be heard or not the advice we need. It is OK, to tell the well intentioned person, that you do not want advice but just an open ear. If individuals discuss with you their issues, it is also OK to let them know you are not in a place to help them because you are still dealing with your own grief.
It is OK also to decline to tell someone how a loved one passed. Sometimes people ask this secondary question. It is only up to you if you wish to share how a person died. You can tell them, it is to painful to recall, or you do not wish to relive it, or that the question is too triggering. You may say that you will talk about it another day, or you may say it is a private matter. Ultimately you should not disclose what makes you uncomfortable. You must set the boundary and live by it.
Boundaries in grief are important. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
During the Holidays, many of these things may occur. Family and friends will want to see you, or expect certain traditions or visits to be upheld. It is especially important to let family and friends know if you want to be alone or if you do not wish to celebrate that particular tradition. Maybe you are not ready and that is OK. Again it is important not to succumb to grief bullying.
Ultimately, you may make individuals uncomfortable when setting boundaries and that is OK. You need to let them know about your feelings and remind them you are moving at your own pace and speed in your grief.
If you would like to learn how to help others deal with grief, please review the American Academy of Grief Counseling’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.
Related Source and Content
What’s Your Grief “Setting Your Grief Boundaries”–please click here to review
Today’s Certified Case Manager is becoming more involved in assessing and working with information on population health. Population health looks at the data of an entire group instead of an individual patient and considers not only the general state of health of the population but typical outcomes as well. “Population health is defined as the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group.” (1)
The term “population health” is a broad one and the group examined can be defined in a variety of ways; your chosen population could be a specific town or city, race or even age group. Viewing data across a broad population can help determine the best practices of care for that particular group and allow for that group’s needs to be anticipated and met. A definition of population health is: “The inherent value of a population health perspective is that it facilitates integration of knowledge across the many factors that influence health and health outcomes.” (1). “The CDC, which has a Division of Population Health, is far wordier and gives more of a functional definition. Population health is interdisciplinary, according to the CDC website, and an approach that uses “nontraditional partnerships” among different sectors of the community — public health, industry, academia, healthcare, local government entities — to achieve positive health outcomes.” (2) We see more content being added today to Case Manager Certification education curriculums on this interesting and important practice topic.
William Edwards Deming was a scientist and engineer and is best known for his principles of productivity; his approaches are often modeled by organizations looking to boost efficiency and quality while lowering costs. Deming’s involvement was a key component of Japan’s recovery after WWII; he also brought his unique take on the tie between quality and productivity to corporations in the US, including the Ford Motor company. This attention to quality helped Japan rebound after WWII and become a booming economy just a decade later; it also helped Ford and other US car makers understand why Japanese motors were outperforming homegrown products year after year. Applying these same principles to population health can help improve outcomes and as a natural byproduct of that improved care, reduce costs as well.
The Deming Philosophy and Healthcare
The Deming philosophy or approach at its most basic states that when an organization focuses on improving quality, costs will naturally fall over time. Case managers work with this philosophy everyday and are at the forefront of guiding quality, cost-effective care. Conversely, an organization that is focused on costs will find their quality dwindling over time. This philosophy can be applied to a variety of industries – including healthcare. When we focus on improving care and outcomes, we can expect costs to drop; focus too much on costs and the quality of care can easily slip. Case managers know this well and serve as educators today to teach this to others on the health care team.
Applying Deming Principles to Healthcare
Managed Care = Managed Processes
The concept of managed care is less about planning the daily work of individual providers and more about the way that the entire process works. The broad approach that is taken to care will have a larger impact on the health of specific populations; engaging and including physicians and providers in the planning process is a must. These providers are the clinicians dealing with clients on a regular basis, and their insight could hold the key to improved overall process and better levels of care.
Engaging Physicians in the Process of Care
Including working physicians in the conversation will greatly improve both the approach to care and the outcomes. Doctors, nurses certified case managers and other providers are working “in the trenches” daily and already have the skills and knowledge to predict what methods will work and what will not. Incorporating frontline care providers in conversations about population health is a must if we are going to properly serve that population and understand what will work (and what won’t).
Accurate and Timely Data is a Must
“In God we trust…and all others must bring data.”
William Edwards Deming
This Deming quote is at the heart of why data is so important. If we can’t measure population health data, there is no way to tell if measures are resulting in improved outcomes, worsened outcomes or having no impact at all. The ability to measure and compare data from a specified population is a must; without accurate data and the ability to analyze it, there is no way to determine if measures designed to improve care have any actual impact at all.
The quality-based approach outlined by Deming offers many advantages and possibilities for population health and for healthcare in general. For true gains to be made, the right data must be collected and accessible, front-line caregivers need to be involved in the planning process, and a broad approach to care for a specific population needs to be implemented. We need to continue to provide continuing education for our case managers and others on the health care team in the quality improvement process, including the use of quality improvement tools, data collection and appropriate interpretation of data.
Some reasons we should care about population health include; 1) it is people focused, 2) it seeks to improve the health of our society, 3) it helps to reduce costs as society becomes healthier, 4) it promotes medical science to deliver better care, 5) it leads to the ability to provide better access to care, and 6) it promotes better patient engagement (3). As such it fits very well into the role of todays certified case manager. It would be most advantageous if we provide our case managers more continuing education and opportunities to become involved in this area of practice. Becoming more intimately involved in population health will assist case management profession in its ultimate growth and expansion of specialized professional practice.
Are you a licensed health care professional who is interested in becoming a Certified Case Manager? If so, you may want to preview information on our Certification and Fellowship program at the American Academy of Case Management. You may access information here.
References:
David A. Kingdig (Ed.) What is Population Health? Improving Population Health: Policy, Practice, Research. University of Wisconsin. Population Health Sciences.
Karen Appold. Confused About Population Health? You’ve Come to the Right Place. Managed Healthcare Executive. Vol. 30, Issue 10. October 2020.
Christina Rosario. Why is Population Health Important? Advanced Data Systems Corporation. July 8, 2020.
Holistic medicine looks to heal the entirety of the mind body and soul. It is preventative in nature but overtime, if properly utilized, can help with numerous maladies. It is important for mental health also. When looking for herbs and other practices to ease stress, anxiety or depression, it is very important to seek the guidance of medical professionals. Many herbs if not used properly can hurt a person. Overdosing, mixing with other herbs or other Western medications, or misusing them can cause health issues. Since this can occur, it is critical to seek professional guidance. Healthcare professionals who have specialties in Holistic Integrative backgrounds are a great place to start.
There are many holistic and natural ways to deal with mental health. Please also review AIHCP’s Holistic Integrative Specialist Program
The article, “A Thorough Guide To Holistic Treatment For Mental Health” by Evalina Brown looks at some important factors in looking at holistic herbs in regards to mental health. She states,
“Holistic treatment facilities see mental illness as a combination of biological, physiological, as well as spiritual issues. This all-inclusive therapy strategy encourages patients to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Holistic Integrative Specialist Program and see if it meets your academic and professional needs. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Holistic Integrative Nursing
Divorce is a major disruption in life and a life altering change. It brings about not only romantic loss but multiple secondary losses. Adjusting to these losses and finding a new routine and life narrative can be very difficult for many people.
Going through a divorce is a difficult transition. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
The article, “Working Through Grief After Divorce” by Melissa Porrey looks at how difficult the transition can be for many facing the grief of divorce. She states,
“When going through a divorce or ending a significant intimate relationship, grieving allows us to work through the thoughts and feelings that are brought on by the many different losses that come with it. Whether it’s working through the physical loss of another person being absent from the home, a loss of security, loss of friendship or companionship, or even financial loss, each needs to be acknowledged and grieved.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling
There are many types of meditation. Most meditation involves focusing on breathing. Transcendental Meditation looks to release oneself from complete awareness through mantra and sound. All work to reduce stress but all also have deeper spiritual meanings as well.
Transcendental Meditation looks to free the mind. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Training
The article, “Your Guide To Practicing Transcendental Meditation” by JR Thorpe looks closer at the unique elements of Transcendental Meditation. He states,
“According to the Oxford Handbook of Meditation, transcendental meditation is all about “transcending from the active mind to the silent mind” and trying to find bliss, a sense of calm, and a reduction in stress. While both are legit ways to train your brain to be present, regular mindfulness meditation training involves being aware of your own body by incorporating elements like visualization, a focus on the breath, and/or a body scan. Transcendental meditation, on the other hand, involves repeating a mantra or sound until you let go of your awareness and surroundings.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Training Program and see if it matches your academic or professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Meditation Instructor.
