Spiritual Care Services

Among the staff at Carolina Hospice Care are professional counselors who have specialized training in Pastoral Care.  This enables them to provide effective emotional support as well as, religious and non-religious care of the spirit.  Sickness affects people in many ways.  When we become terminally ill, our perception of our physical, emotional, and spiritual life can change substantially.  What was once familiar may become strange and foreign as we learn to come to terms with illness.  Emotional and spiritual needs usually occur right along with medical needs and our counselors address these in keeping with the goal of our hospice to provide care for the “whole” person, be it the individual or family member.

The Role of the Pastoral Counselor

The role of the pastoral counselor is varied.  Rather than trying to impose religious beliefs, counselors endeavor to be good listeners and to help people cope with questions and other issues raised by terminal illness.  They encourage people to talk about their concerns and discover their own meaningful answers.

Sometimes individuals need to vent their feelings to someone with an empathetic ear.  Emotions of anxiety, fear, anger, frustration and sadness are common and normal.

At times, the counselor’s role is to help family and other caregivers become more sensitive and responsive to the individuals needs, enabling them to be more understanding, caring and supportive.

If the individual is affiliated with a local religious organization or place of worship, the counselor can help communicate spiritual needs to the individual’s clergy.

The counselor’s primary purpose is to be fully present and authentically caring, helping individuals affected by the illness and their loved ones to maintain their dignity, their power of choice and their peace of mind.

Common Reasons People Call Upon Pastoral Counselors

• For emotional comfort
• For the performance of rituals
• For assistance with reconciliation
• For companionship and friendship
• For assistance with funeral/memorial services
• When facing ethical dilemmas
• When making important decisions
• When feeling helpless or depressed
• When wanting the comfort of prayer
• When seeking solace through sacred writings
• When struggling with life’s seeming unfairness
• To nurture hope
• To receive encouragement
• To find meaning and purpose
• To experience you are not alone
• To foster connection with the divine
• To share rejoicing and thanksgiving

We are here to help.  Anyone in the family may request spiritual counseling or referral to pastoral care services in the community by calling:

Carolina Hospice Care at 877.849.5910

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