VNA of Northern Berkshire hosts workshop with trainer Douglas Smith04:23PM / Friday, October 10, 2008
NORTH ADAMS - Professional trainer and consultant Douglas C. Smith, M.A., M.S., M. Div, will lead a workshop on psycho-spiritual caring entitled “Spiritual Needs at the End of Life,” on Tuesday, November 18, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire, North Adams. The workshop, sponsored by the VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire, is designed for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and volunteers.
The daylong session is open to the public; a certificate for six contact hours will be awarded to caregivers including nurses, social workers, clergy, funeral directors, counselors, therapists, and nursing home administrators. Registration is $69 for full day participants ($225 for a group of four), and $59 for employees of Northern Berkshire Healthcare affiliates.
Smith will discuss how healthcare providers can address the spiritual needs and concerns of their patients at the end of their life. Topics will include what is spiritual language, how to show respect for that spiritual language, how to discuss issues of spirituality without showing religious prejudice, how to use guided imagery and meditation and how different faith communities perceive sickness, death and afterlife.
Deadline for registration is Friday, November 14. Registration may be made by calling the VNA & Hospice at (413) 664-4536, by fax at (413) 662-6815, or online by e-mailing pcourtemanche@nbhealth.org.
Douglas C. Smith, M.A., M.S., M.Div., is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant with more than 25 years of experience as a counselor, therapist, patient-care advocate, and health care administrator. He has worked in hospitals, hospices, religious institutions, and social welfare agencies. He is the author of a number of books including The Tao of Dying, Caregiving, Being a Wounded Healer and Spiritual Healing. He has also published in such journals as Caring Magazine; Counseling and Values; Illness, Crisis and Loss; Journal of Humanistic Education and Development; Medical Hypnoanalysis Journal; Journal of Pastoral Care; and Omega: Journal of Death and Dying. He has presented workshops for institutions in all 50 states and Canada. |
