Spiritual Direction at Beaver Medical Group

 

	Beaver Medical Group has contracted with the Reverend Doctor Alden Sproull, Chaplain for the Redlands Community Hospital, to provide spiritual direction to patients with cancer or chronic lung diseases. Dr. Emad Ibrahim of Oncology saw Rev. Sproull assist patients while they were in crisis at the hospital, and decided to bring spiritual direction services to Beaver Medical Group. "Reverend Sproull has helped our patients, allowing us to focus on medical care. He provides support through a very difficult time," said Dr. Ibrahim. Spiritual Directors help people discover who they are and what is important while developing awareness of God in their daily lives. Participants feel more deeply connected with the divine while exploring personal life issues, work, relationships and attitudes. "I help a patient live with questions and the ambiguity of life," said Rev. Dr. Sproull. When someone in the family develops cancer the whole family becomes stressed. Many cancer patients ask, "Why is this happening to me?" Rev. Dr. Sproull helps patients and their families gain understanding and learn ways to cope. "To live daily with suffering forces us to examine our lives with an urgency and honesty that we have never experienced before," he said. Robert Andrews, a patient with lung cancer, meets with Rev. Dr. Sproull once a month. After learning he only had a very small chance of beating his cancer, Robert decided not to go through treatment. Robert made an appointment with Rev. Dr. Sproull to work through his end-of-life issues. “I was in a strange mood - neither happy or sad. Now I feel more connected with heaven and closer to God. Believe it or not, I am ok with this.” Many patients sought spiritual direction from Rev. Dr. Sproull after learning of his vast experience with critically ill and cancer patients. He has listened to those that have coped well, and offers specific suggestions to other ill patients on a spiritual journey. The process of spiritual direction works with people from all spiritual or nonreligious backgrounds. Rev. Dr. Sproull can work within an individual's tradition, or a person can choose to incorporate ideas from multiple faiths. Rev. Dr. Sproull begins with a temperament test, then asks questions and carefully listens to understand his client's background and needs. He recommends prayer and contemplation exercises. "I ask for a small amount of time for quiet reflection, study or meditation. I guarantee that if you do serious spiritual work, you'll see much needed improvement in your ability to be present to the spiritual resources of the journey." Robert added, “It’s like he’s peeling an onion to find out what’s happening inside.” The Rev. Dr. Sproull has worked in Contemplative Spiritual Practices for 35 years, and has spent the last 19 at Redlands Community Hospital. He received a Doctorate in Christian Spirituality from the San Francisco Theological Seminary with an emphasis in women's spirituality and spiritual direction. Both Dr. Ibrahim and Rev. Dr. Sproull are certified by the American Medical Association as "End of Life" care trainers. Rev. Dr. Sproull guides people on a spiritual journey to help them cope better and improve their relationships with others. According to Donna Woods, "Spiritual direction... is founded on the understanding that God lives within the hearts of each of us and of all creation... Spiritual practices, including spiritual direction, have the ability to expand one's inner awareness where stillness, peace, happiness, and joy reside." "It is transformative," said Rev. Dr. Sproull. He sees patients at the Highland Beaver Medical Group office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the afternoon. Patients with cancer or chronic lung disease who would like an appointment with Rev. Dr. Sproull should contact Oncology at (909) 862-1191, extension 5321. September, 2006
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