"Spiritual care is not a luxury for a few; it is the essential right of every human being, as essential as political liberty, medical assistance, and equality of opportunity. A real democratic ideal would include knowledgeable spiritual care for everyone as one of its most essential truths."

- Sogyal Rinpoche

What is the Essence of Spiritual Care?

Every person has the innate intuition and internal resources to find their own way through distress, to find their own truth. There are times when we all need support and care, someone to listen and witness, someone to see us for the whole person that we are, and to honor and share our journey with us.

This is what Chaplains strive to do - to meet you exactly as you are, to listen, to encourage, to help you feel the deep and vibrant love that exists all around you.

What Does a Chaplain Do?

Professional Chaplains serve the spiritual, or core, needs of patients, families and staff of any or no spiritual orientation. Many people have core needs during times of crisis regardless of religious background. The job of the Chaplain is to be present - to listen and to explore the feelings and needs that may arise in people who are dealing with challenges that may include:

• Making end-of-life decisions

• Facing death and dying

• Situations that may accompany a life crisis

• Grief and loss

• Struggling to accept present realities

• Reconciliation

• Baptism, naming ceremony, or blessing

• Prayer, meditation, ritual

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

This site may contain links to other web sites outside of www.permanente.net. Kaiser Permanente has no control over the content or the availability of these sites, and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. Web links are provided as an educational tool, and should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. A link or reference to a web site should not be construed as an endorsement of the site or its contents. Any medical content that you feel may be important to your health should always be discussed with your Kaiser Permanente physician.