63rd Annual Conference

11:00 A.M.-12:00 noon

Session 207

Spirituality and Chronic Illness: What Do You Believe?

Presenters:         

Kenneth Nowack, Ph.D. Consultant, National Multiple Sclerosis

Society, Santa Monica, California

Carolyn Roberts, Ph.D., MFT, Consultant, Marilyn Hilton Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center, UCLA, California

Dealing with chronic illness requires the exploration of many management strategies. This includes belief systems, the therapist's as well as the patient's, surrounding religion, spirituality and healing. Come explore your own beliefs and biases, hear the latest research on links between spirituality and health. Learn how spirituality can enhance your work in developing short and long term goals to help patients better cope with chronic illness.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Develop strategies for application of spirituality and coping with chronic illness.

2. Explore one's definition of and biases toward spirituality.

3. Understand latest research on links between spirituality, religiosity and health.

4. Develop a personal model of how spirituality can play a part in coping with a chronic illness. 

Course References:

1. Powell, L., Shahabi, L., Thoresen, C. (2003). Religion and Spirituality:

Linkages to physical health. American Psychologist, 58(1), 36-52.

2. Hill, P., Pargament, K. (2003). Advances in the Conceptualization and

Measurement of Religion and Spirituality: Implications for physical and mental

health research. American Psychologist, 58(1), 64-74.

3. Nowack, K., (1990). Initial Development and Validation of a Stress and Health

Risk Factor Instrument. American Journal of Health Promotion, 4, 174-180.