Talk with a Chaplain

Spiritual care is a type of counseling provided by a trained care provider. It involves nonjudgmental and compassionate listening that allows people to share their joys, concerns, and hopes in the context of their full humanity, and for many, their spirituality or philosophy.

It has the goal of fostering a person's spiritual and existential well-being; and, if desired, it can include guidance, prayer, meditation, spiritual reflection and scriptural study.

Spiritual care focuses on healing our relationship to self, to community, with nature, and with the divine, the unknown, or that which transcends the self.

It can provide an opportunity for confidential conversation in the context of a holistic and multidisciplinary network of support at places such as hospitals, universities, nursing homes, etc.

Spiritual care is primarily provided by professional chaplains, who are specifically trained to care for all people from all belief systems: religious, spiritual, philosophical or none.

Traditionally, professional chaplains provide emotional, spiritual and religious support at healthcare, rehabilitation or hospice facilities, police and fire departments, jails and prisons, and the armed forces. As the field of professional chaplaincy expands, you will now find such chaplains providing spiritual care in higher education settings like Stanford, as well as community spaces (ie. as shelters, businesses, and airports).

ORSL chaplains are trained to provide professionally standard non-sectarian spiritual care to all people.

Spiritual (pastoral) care is a type of care and counseling provided by spiritual leaders. It involves nonjudgmental and compassionate listening that allows people to share their joy, sadness, anger, concerns, frustrations, and hopes in the context of their full humanity, and for many, their spirituality or philosophy. It has the goal of fostering a person's spiritual and existential well-being.

However, spiritual care is not the same as psychotherapy. Though chaplains work with therapeutic modalities, chaplains are not therapists. Therapists, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists, are licensed mental health care providers. Therapy is concerned with techniques and theories of relational and behavioral change, mental health diagnoses, and pervasive mental health issues, such as long-term depression, chronic anxiety, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, and psychosis.

Yes! You do not need to subscribe to any faith tradition in order to chat with a member of the ORSL spiritual care team. These conversations about values and self-care are for everyone. There are no hidden religious or spiritual agendas!

Stanford chaplains specialize in being fully present with others as they navigate spiritual, existential and emotional experiences. This can range from experiences of change and transition, to crisis and trauma.

Yes! Spiritual care is primarily provided by chaplains, who are specifically trained to care for all people of all religious backgrounds, spiritual beliefs and life philosophies. 

There are no hidden religious, spiritual, or conversion agendas! You are welcome with all of your beliefs, questions, doubts, and convictions. You are simply invited and encouraged to show up as you are, however that might be.

The ORSL deans and chaplain associates are queer and trans* affirming and are specifically trained to care for all people from all belief systems. You are welcome with all of your beliefs, questions, doubts, and convictions. You are simply invited and encouraged to show up as you are, however that might be.

Spiritual care is primarily provided by professional chaplains, who are specifically trained to care for all people from all belief systems: religious, spiritual, philosophical, or none. They do not need to share your tradition in order for you to receive spiritual care.

However, if you prefer to speak with a chaplain from a particular tradition or with a specific identity, please let us know. Take a look at our ORSL team (Deans, Chaplain Affiliates, and Chaplain Associates) to see if there is a specific chaplain that you would like to speak to and email us at spiritualcare@stanford.edu. We will do our best to accommodate your needs based on the resources available to us.

Spiritual care is a 1:1 conversation between yourself and a chaplain about your religious/spiritual journey, beliefs and concerns. Meeting with a chaplain does not impact your participation in a SAR group, nor will an ORSL chaplain share what you discuss with your SAR advisor/group.

ORSL chaplains are specifically trained to care for all people from all belief systems without bias towards adherence, conversion, or renunciation of your current tradition or belief system. You are welcome with all of your beliefs, questions, doubts, and convictions. You are simply invited and encouraged to show up as you are, however that might be. 

If you prefer to speak with a chaplain who shares your tradition, please let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs based on the resources available to us. If you are looking to speak to the advisor of your specific SAR group, please contact them directly. You can find their information here: https://orsl.stanford.edu/sar-student-groups 

No. Chaplains are confidential resources. They will not share your name or identifying information with anyone else (ie. professors, deans, family members, etc.) without your consent. 

However, if during your session the chaplain becomes concerned about serious, imminent, life-threatening harm to yourself or to another person, the chaplain will work with you to protect you and others from harm and connect you to more resources. If you have any hesitation or questions, we encourage you to ask questions about it directly with the chaplain during your session.