S W 444 Chapter article : Implicit Spiritual Assess
Document Summary
Administering a spiritual assessment as part of a larger bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment. Provides a more holistic understanding of clients" realities, which in turn provides the basis for subsequent practice decisions. Spiritual assessment is widely conceptualized as a two-stage process: a brief preliminary assessment followed if clinically warranted by an extensive comprehensive assessment. The purpose of the preliminary assessment is to determine the clinical relevance of spirituality and to ascertain whether a comprehensive assessment is needed. Some clients may benefit from what might be called an implicit spiritual assessment in which the use of tradition spiritual or religious language is avoided. One way to conceptualize spirituality is in terms of connectedness with what is perceived to be sacred or transcendent. Spirituality can be seen as a fundamental human drive for transcendent meaning and purpose that involves connectedness with oneself, others, and ultimate reality.
