Spiritual Care Services
GLRC believes that spirituality is a key component of recovery and offers access to spiritual care throughout the treatment process. On-staff chaplains use their training to assess the spiritual needs of a client. Interventions may include reflective listening, empathic support, prayer, contacting a faith community, or helping clients integrate their spiritual beliefs into their new reality of recovery.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives.
In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience — something that touches us all.
What is Spiritual Care?
Spiritual care attends to a person’s spiritual and religious needs as a person copes with things such as addiction, illness, loss, grief and pain and assists in their healing process. Spiritual care, physical health, and emotional and mental well-being together support persons in their journey to wholeness and health.
What is a Chaplain?
While the word chaplain often brings a Priest or Pastor to mind, a chaplain is not necessarily either of those. A chaplain serves on a team of caregivers to offer Spiritual Care to the clients of Great Lakes Recovery Centers.
Chaplains are theologically trained and may also have additional clinical training (C.P.E.- Clinical Pastoral Education). However, no matter their own faith tradition, chaplains are trained to assist clients and families of any faith, as well as those with no faith or those who are unsure.
Contact
For questions or further information on Spiritual Care Services at GLRC, please contact the chaplain at jelsenbroek@greatlakesrecovery.org or over the phone at (906) 228-7611 ext: 1219.
Pastoral Care Services
GLRC has a chaplain on staff and several volunteer chaplains that are available for prayer, listening, and support with grief and other spiritual concerns. Pastoral Care is available in-person in some programs and also by telehealth or phone in other programs. The chaplain can also assist clients in connecting or reconnecting with their faith group or a faith group that they would like to explore.
The Role of a Chaplain
The role of a chaplain is varied and also dependent on the needs of the clients. A chaplain seeks to serve as an anchor, helping to ground those who may feel restless, fearful, or anxious.
Some spiritual needs that a chaplain can assist a client or staff with are:
- To forgive themselves or others.
- To review their life for meaning.
- To maintain a positive outlook by utilizing spiritual strengths.
- To keep an open mind.
Spirituality as Part of Treatment
Clients can include spirituality into their treatment goals. Included in this, meditation and mindfulness practices are offered as part of treatment programs.
Worship Services
Weekly ecumenical worship servicess are offered at some of GLRC's residential programs. The chaplain and staff will also assist with connecting clients to other worship services virtually. Upon request, the chaplain and staff will assist clients in connecting to external worship services in-person as fits with a client’s plan and the program.
Native American Spiritual Practices
Native American spiritual practices that are available at GLRC include drumming, healing circles, smudging, Cedar, and Tobacco for prayer. Assistance with creating space for additional practices is available upon request.
For More Information
Spiritual Care Services
For questions or further information on Spiritual Care Services please contact Chaplain Jen Elsenbroek.
(906) 228-7611 ext: 1219