Psychosocial-Spiritual Alberta Community of Practice 2025-26
October 9, 2025 · 12:00 - 1:00pm
Organized by: Palliative Institute
Audience: Healthcare professionals
Webinar Palliative care Spiritual health Mental health
This community of practice seeks to develop the clinical and self-care skills of professionals providing psychosocial-spiritual care to palliative patients, families and the bereaved in Alberta.
In palliative and grief care, there is often a component of suffering that we cannot “fix” or “take away”. Instead, as psychosocial-spiritual professionals we are called to companion and support, foster coping, processing, treatment, and sometimes healing. This COP seeks to develop the clinical and self-care skills of professionals providing psychosocial-spiritual care to palliative patients, families and the bereaved in Alberta. Developed with Alberta content, this series is open to social workers, spiritual care providers, creative arts therapists, occupational therapists, Indigenous liaisons, counsellors, psychologists, nurses and other clinicians providing emotional and spiritual support.
We meet on the second Thursday of the month from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Sessions
Narrative Medicine: Reflective Writing Practices for Palliative Care Providers
Session 1: Oct. 9, 2025 · 12 to 1 p.m. (MST)
Presenters: Paula Holmes-Rodman, PhD, Advanced Certificate Narrative Based Medicine (Narrative Prescriptions) and Mireille de Reland, BBA, Certificates in Narrative Based Medicine and Mindful Informed End-of-Life Care (Narrative Prescriptions)
About the session
Discover how Narrative Medicine can support the wellbeing of psychosocial palliative care providers. Through reflective writing prompts, participants will explore personal and collective resilience. This experiential session fosters compassionate patient care, peer connection, and mindful self-care.
Learning goals:
- Understand how Narrative Medicine can support the wellbeing of psychosocial palliative care providers.
- Engage in reflective writing prompts to restore the self and cultivate resilience.
- Reconnect with meaning and purpose through guided reflection and shared discussion—fostering sustainable, compassionate patient care, peer connection, and mindful self-care.
Deepening Connections: How Our Presence and “Holy Curiosity” Might Deepen Spiritual Care Conversations
Session 2: Nov. 13 · 12 to 1 p.m. (MST)
Presenter: Christine Enfield, M.Div, CSCP (CASC), RCT (ACTA) Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner, Covenant Health
About the session
We will explore our own strategies for grounding ourselves and remaining present in patient/client encounters. How might the use of “open honest questions” and reflective listening techniques encourage a patient’s/client’s inner voice to be heard?
Learning goals:
- Consider one’s own strategies or rituals for grounding oneself and being present in patient/client interactions.
- Learn about “open honest questions”, a concept from author and educator Parker Palmer’s work.
- Consider how our listening and responding may either keep conversations on the surface or invite deeper sharing.
Guided Imagery and Music Approaches for Palliative and Grief Care
Session 3: Dec. 11 · 12 to 1 p.m. (MST)
Presenter: Sheila Killoran, MA, MTA, FAMI, Certified Music Therapist, Education Lead, Covenant Health
About the session
This session explores techniques for visualization, guided imagery, and music applicable for use by palliative and grief care health care professionals. We will discuss the use of scripts, short interventions, as well as advanced practice considerations. Participants will experience a music imagery intervention. This session includes a member-sharing opportunity, and you are invited to bring any resources on this topic to share, if you wish.
Learning goals:
- Explore various visualization, guided imagery, and music techniques for use in clinical practice
- Understand the role of music and imagination for wellbeing
- Gain awareness of advanced practice considerations and contraindications
- Engage in a music imagery intervention and self-reflection