Chaplain Lynne writes:

Safe Patient Presence

She sat on the wall, head down, hands moving up and down on her arms, as she rocked back and forth. She didn’t say a word when the Chaplain quietly introduced herself. She didn’t even seem to recognize that anyone was there. She just kept rocking, staring down, trying to soothe the rawness of her crisis.

The Chaplain recognized the level of trauma her brain was responding to, and waited quietly.

She didn’t move away, or speak, when the Chaplain sat next to her. “I’m just going to sit here and be with you, if that’s ok,” said the Chaplain.

Minute after minute passed.

Her head raised eventually. Then slowly she stopped rocking… and then… the tears began to fall noiselessly.

The chaplain slipped her a small packet of tissue, again meeting her where she was, with compassion. Deep sobs broke through, and then more silent tears.

More minutes passed in silence and sniffles.

Then the Chaplain, reaching in a small backpack, pulled out a bottle of water and offered it to the hurting woman. She accepted it, with a nod of her head and a muffled thanks. Simple care for her needs, ministered to her in the midst of her shock and trauma filled moment. This was Signaling care and safety to her trauma frozen brain.

More quiet minutes of a Chaplain patiently being “present” passed, before the Chaplain spoke again.

“I’ll be right here, if you can share with me what happened”.

The story flowed haltingly at first, but then, as the mind began working, the emotion center lessened, and her speech became clearer.

As time went on, the Chaplain, listening attentively, asked a few simple questions, and her tears slowed. Later, when the time was right and her mind and emotion more balanced, the Chaplain helped her form a “next steps” plan, helped link her to family and eventually to her faith leader for further ongoing support.

The Chaplain’s presence in the midst of her darkness, steadied her, making her feel cared for and safer. As she was poured out painful words that the Chaplain did not flinch at, it created that safe shield for pain to process.

That’s what Presence is all about. It is less about the Chaplain, and more about the peace they carry within and bring to the situation. Peace leads to Hope. The courage and compassion to sit within the circle of pain and fear they feel, speaks of strength and safety to their traumatized brain.

The words “I will be here with you ” that compassionate presence, brings comfort. It reveals Hope in the midst of the pain. Hope reflects safety, which releases the clutches of the trauma filled mind, as that safety is experienced.

John 6 tells us of another difficult time.
The darkness abruptly fell,
the sea was rough.
the journey seemed unfathomable, and they each trembled and were afraid.
Then Jesus spoke
and He…
with His words, His presence , and the Power they revealed…
brought deep oceans of hope,
immeasurable comfort and infinite peace.

Those words… few and simple…
that ministry of presence engraved in our hearts forever and ever…

“Don’t be afraid, I am here!!!”

Self Care –
What do you need today Chaplain?
He is near to you.
Let Him bear it with you.
Sit with Him, He is patient and merciful.

Blessings, Chaplain Lynne

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“But he called out to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here’.” ~ John 6:20