FAQ From Chaplains

1. What is CAMPaM?

CAMPaM is Complementary Alternative Medicine practiced in the context of Pastoral Ministry. Basing on the principles of various modalities that are out there, in this study we will be looking into the theological implications and practical applications of CAM.

2. How did you come up with this concept?

I really didn’t have to re-invent the wheel. I just married the obvious to create a family. Complementary Alternative Medicine and Pastoral Ministry are highly complementary and therefore they should be together. Such a unity was intended from the beginning of mankind in the lives of people of God.

3. What is the significance of this science to Pastoral Care?

CAMPaM is of utmost significant to pastoral care departments, CPE centers and those who are involved in the ministry of healing. When one considers what is happening in today’s fast growing and changing society, it is obvious that we are moving towards a more integrated approach to healthcare. The world is frantically searching for spiritual women and men to support them in their emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical well being. More and more people are turning to alternative methods of healing to meet their healthcare needs. 40% of the Americans now are willing to try CAM. 80+ medical schools, 100+ nursing schools, and 150+ private national institutions, as well as hundreds of other private institutions, schools and hospitals are now hiring or teaching their existing staff to offer these services. The National Institute of Health through National Center for Complementary Medicine is currently funding several research projects on CAM. This is the world around us – will you be a part of it?

4. Is the time right for CAM in pastoral ministry?

Many medical professionals consider professional chaplaincy as a CAM modality that will enable faster integral healing. However, it sometimes seems that, according to some other medical professionals, professional chaplains are not yet fully equipped to talk in the language of CAM, although no one will deny that the elements of CAM practiced by chaplains are done with great integrity, spiritual maturity and consistency. Rituals, Imageries, Relaxation techniques, Prayer, Spiritual Energy, mindfulness, awareness, awakening, intuitiveness, hands on healing, inner healing therapies, creative therapies, spiritual touch, etc., are also the property of chaplains, pastors and ministers, but for now claimed by others and ironically feared by chaplains. Maybe our fear comes from a lack of proper scriptural exploration of these themes.

5. How practical is it?

Taking into consideration the skills a chaplain has developed through clinical pastoral education and experience in assessment, intervention, theological reflection and care planning, this study will become very easy. After a brief introduction into theory, the program switches gears to hands-on training in each modality so that the chaplain/student will have first hand experience of the science. The hands on training is specifically provided so that at the end of the coursework a chaplain can easily integrate all or some of the modalities learned in private sessions with the staff, patients, self, family or friends. To help you through this process at the end of the program, you will be given printed guidelines making it easy, adaptable and beneficial to you.

6. What does the study involve?

8 hours of dedicated and focused time for each module. Your willingness to participate in group sessions and practicum.

7. Are there pre-requisites?

If you are a professionally trained chaplain or student of Clinical Pastoral Education, there are NO pre-requisites. If you are a pastor of a church there are NO pre-requisites. If you are minister without professional training in ministry but would like to benefit from the wealth of this program, you may be advised to go through at least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education in any nationally accredited center. For all others without CPE background as your openness to critical thinking and guidance is required. To enhance this you will be offered an opportunity to take up to 50 hours of action-reflection model of ministry supervised by the experts in the field.

8. Does CAMPaM in any way go against faith?

Faith might be defined as the internal unexplainable conviction in a higher reality that empowers a person to make meaning of the events and situations of life. Faith derails when we try to overly explain it and subject it to the reason of our magnificent but small minds. CAMPaM is not entirely explainable to reason but is tangible to the heart. By utilizing the concepts of faith and religion, and by looking into the common element in both religion and CAM, we will be focusing on a Pastoral Approach.

9. What does a chaplain get out of this?

Professionally, you will receive a theoretical and practical training in 6+ Complementary Alternative Methods of healing from each training module. If you are a member of a professional group, you also will get CEUs and a certificate of completion. Personally, your life is sure to be impacted by the exposure to CAMPaM and the hands-on experience of these healing modalities.

10. Can I use it anywhere?

You bet. Meaning anywhere. One’s only limitations would be those demanded by prudence and the divine gift of wisdom, so that all you do is forthright and honest before God and God’s people.

11. Will it increase my paper work?

Understanding the value of time, this program has been designed so that your paper work will become easier, faster and clearer. This program will provide a recommended vocabulary for easier charting, computer programming and electronic filing. By adapting the terminology provided in the program, a few hospitals have already modified their electronic charting systems. By integrating the words and phrases into the information system, the chaplains can easily make computer to supply the basics so that they can concentrate on the specifics of the visit. This makes it professional, easily understandable and professionally acceptable.

12. How will I know it works?

Your practice of these modalities will prove itself within weeks of implementation. One hospital that recently tried CAMPaM services employing one person on a part-time basis has now expanded this service to every floor.

13. Will it help me with self-care?

Chaplains who are susceptible to burn out due to a high volume of crisis interventions, deaths, fetal demises, traumas or any other sort of issues on the hospital floors, will find it extremely beneficial for self-care. Some of the modalities taught in the program are as much for self care as they are for the care of others. CAMPaM studies help chaplains care for themselves first so that they can care for others better.

14. I work with hospice. How will it help me there?

Complementary alternative modalities used alongside traditional pastoral care are very beneficial in calming the hospice patient’s anxiety and fear, and providing inner peace and healing. Many hospice home care groups and Veteran’s Affairs hospitals are now employing CAM practitioners to provide these services; services which are actually the proper realm of chaplains.

15. What is the teaching methodology?

Lectures and Discussions, Audio Visual Demonstrations, Hands on Teaching, and Questions and Answers.

16. What is the method of study?

Active listening, Questions and Answer Sessions, Hands-on Training, Research and References, Observation and Clarification, Practical Application and Performance.

17. What is the future of CAMPaM?

CAMPaM represents the future of pastoral care in a changing healthcare industry. Your training in CAMPaM will not only help you to grow spiritually, but will also enable you to be an educator. Educating and caring for your staff, administration, and medical personnel in struggles both personal and professional through complementary intervention will empower them and enable them to be better vehicles of care for their patients and clients. 18. How long does it take to learn CAMPaM?

CAMPaM is a 32 hour course divided into four modules of eight hours each. An additional 18 hours is available for those who would like to further their studies. Each module can be taught in eight sessions. Each session is 50 minutes. One module can be done in one day or broken up into two days of four hours each. The best learning occurs when offered in two days of 5 hours each, meaning 4 hours of training time, and 1 hour to divide the sessions for breaks and refreshments. Being a complementary alternative method of healing, it should not in itself create tension for the participants.

19. Can I advance in my studies of CAMPaM?

Yes, you can. Advancing in CAMPaM would involve specializing in one particular model. For example, if you are a chaplain working in pediatrics, there are specific methods on which you may want to concentrate in order to enhance your skills with this population. The same thing is true if you are working on a geriatric floor, hospice group, retirement community, oncology floor, medical floor, etc. Thus the advancement in CAMPaM studies is limitless.

20. Can I receive CCEs, CEUs and/or a Certificate of Completion from CAMPaM coursework?

CAMPaM is officially approved for Continuing Chaplaincy Education (CCE) by the Association of Professional Chaplains. Each module gives you 0.8 CCE (8 contact hours). At the completion of the course you will be awarded 3.2 CCE units (32 contact hours). This is being revised so that I can offer even more contact hours as your actual practice time will be much greater. In addition, you will receive a certificate of completion stating that you have successfully completed training in CAMPaM Studies.

21. How soon can you set up our department to deliver these modalities effectively on the floor to our staff and patients?

There are four factors involved in the successful implementation of this method in a Pastoral Care department.

1. Openness of the learner and director.
2. Unconditional support of pastoral care director and CPE supervisor.
3. Willingness from the part of the administration to risk this innovative study as this is a proven method that will produce great result, staff and patient satisfaction..
4. Openness to continuing education and skill enhancement.

If the above mentioned four factors are in place, your department with 4 to 6 six chaplains can venture into this project without fear in a matter of 15 working days.