Over the last several decades, the topic of spirituality has come to the forefront of public and professional consciousness. With the dawn of a new century, spirituality received increased coverage in the media and more discussion in the workplace, politics, and education (Young & Koopsen, 2011). This is due, in part, to the fact that many individuals are pursuing their own spiritual growth, longing to connect in a conscious way to the life force that is behind everything they see and experience. Many are disillusioned with the current culture focused on material gains, being “busy” versus doing “good work,” being the best, and physical pleasures. Such lifestyles can lead to gross inequality, stress and burnout, a sense of meaninglessness, and lack of a sense of peace or purpose, with many people questioning whether such a highly individualistic way of living is healthy (Rogers & Wattis, 2015).
Today, there is also a wider acceptance of the topic of spirituality for all healthcare providers. This acceptance brings with it the need to understand the spiritual and religious beliefs and practices of clients and the need to more fully comprehend how these beliefs and practices impact health and healing (Carson & Stoll, 2008; Burkhardt & Nagai-Jacobson, 2015).
Spirituality and spiritual practices have become more apparent in the delivery of more compassionate, holistic health care, as increasing evidence shows that spiritual factors are important components of health and well-being (Burkhardt & Nagai-Jacobson, 2015).
As the information age gives way to the intuition age, and as health care professionals increasingly take care of widely diverse clients, they need to focus less on logical, linear, mechanical thinking and more on creative, lateral, emotional thinking (Reynolds, 2005).
This shift in focus requires the provision of care to encompass a more holistic perspective—one that attends to all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit. By caring for clients in a way that acknowledges the mind-body-spirit connection, healthcare providers acknowledge the whole person (Cobb & Robshaw, 1998; Goddard, 2000).
As Burkhardt and Nagai-Jacobson (2002) so aptly write in their book, Spirituality: Living Our Connectedness, “Spirituality is at the heart of caring for the whole person” (p. 1).
Yet the lack of a clear definition or a concise conceptual framework, coupled with limited opportunities for spiritual training and professional development of healthcare providers, has resulted in the neglect of this aspect of client care (Burkhardt & Nagai-Jacobson, 2015).