| |
| author |
Dana Shavonne Rainey
| | title |
Movement-Based Spiritual Care Within Clinical Healthcare Chaplaincy
| | abstract |
Chaplaincy has long been grounded in verbal engagement, empathetic listening, and the ministry of presence. Yet the body itself—its breath, posture, gesture, and stillness—is already present in every pastoral encounter, shaping how care is offered and received. This dissertation argues that movement is not incidental to spiritual care but fundamental to it, and proposes a framework for recognizing and practicing movement as a distinct modality within clinical chaplaincy. The theological foundation for this claim draws on three Christian doctrines. The Incarnation affirms that God meets humanity through the body; Christ's embodied ministry of touch, gesture, and presence establishes movement as a conduit of divine compassion. The Imago Dei affirms that every human body reflects divine creativity and relationality, such that embodied movement in care honors the sacredness of the whole person. Pneumatology connects breath and movement to the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit, grounding breathwork and somatic attunement in a long tradition of embodied prayer. Together, these doctrines establish that the chaplain's body is not merely a vehicle for words but a theological instrument of care. The literature review surveys five interdisciplinary fields: dance/movement therapy, embodied spirituality, praise and liturgical dance, somatic practices in healthcare, and pastoral care theory. Scholars across these fields consistently affirm that movement supports healing, meaning-making, emotional regulation, and spiritual connection. However, none develops movement as a named, structured modality within clinical chaplaincy. This dissertation addresses that gap by proposing three interrelated concepts—Embodying Movement, Movement Intervention, and Spiritual Movement—as a practical and theological framework for chaplaincy practice. Qualitative case studies drawn from clinical ministry demonstrate how these concepts operate in real pastoral encounters. Breathwork, grounded posture, compassionate gesture, and patient-led movement each emerged as forms of spiritual care that deepened connection, affirmed dignity, and supported healing. The dissertation concludes that chaplaincy education and clinical pastoral education programs would benefit from incorporating movement-based training, equipping chaplains to attend to the embodied dimensions of spiritual care with intentionality, theological grounding, and clinical integrity.
| | school |
The Theological School, Drew University
| | degree |
D.Min. (2026)
|
| advisor |
Meredith E Hoxie Schol
|
| committee |
Sarita Wilson-Anderson
|
| full text | DRainey.pdf - requires Drew uLogin |
| |
