Spirituality and Meaning Making in Chronic Illness

This guide to supporting people with chronic illness provides practical interventions and spiritual care skills to facilitate healing and increase understanding. Using a narrative medicine approach, the book analyses two women - the metaphor of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz alongside the author's own experiences of managing pain.

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Many spiritual caregivers, including chaplains, spiritual directors and clergy, are unaware of how they can support people with chronic health conditions. This book combines insights on chronic illness with spiritual care skills and suggestions to enhance well-being for people living with long-term illness.

Using a narrative approach, the author reflects on the stories of two women - Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, who travels from Kansas (a state of health) to Oz (an illness experience), alongside the author's personal experiences of managing an incurable autoimmune disease. Chapters will include guidelines and exercises that help equip caregivers to facilitate healing with people who live with long-term health conditions.