title: Healing: the power of presence. A reflection.
abstract: The focus of my work as a teacher and Episcopal priest has been pastoral. In my work of chaplaincy, spiritual director, and trainer of spiritual directors, I have been powerfully aware of the importance of presence. Furthermore, I have concentrated on the significance of healing-physical, emotional, and spiritual-as distinguished from curing. This article is a reflection, based on my decades of experience, as contrasted with an academic exploration of the history, various traditions, or the methodology of healing.
authors.affiliation: St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Washington, DC 20016, USA. mbguenther@earthlink.net
authors.forename: Margaret B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Guenther
mesh_terms: D002977:Clergy; D006738:Hospices; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010327:Pastoral Care; D026443:Spiritual Therapies / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology