Clients have spiritual needs. You can assist with these needs, too. Helping clients meet their spiritual needs can help them cope with illness or disability. Remember that spirituality is a sensitive area. Do not offend your clients by making judgments or imposing your beliefs.
The following are some ways you can help clients meet their spiritual needs:
- Learn a little bit about your client’s religion or beliefs.
- Accommodate practices such as dietary restrictions. Never make judgments about them. Also, respect your client’s decision to refrain from food-related rituals.
- Respect all religious items.
- Get to know the priest, rabbi, or minister who visits or calls your client.
- Allow privacy for clergy visits.
- If a client asks you, help find spiritual resources available in the area. The yellow pages usually list churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship.
You should never do the following:
- Try to change someone’s religion.
- Tell clients their belief or religion is wrong.
- Express judgments about a religious group
- Insist clients join religious activities.
- Interfere with religious practices.