ABSTRACT
As spiritual caregivers, the authors work can feel more urgent, more "important", and even critical. It can feel larger than simply addressing the perceived concerns of those for whom the authors care. Spiritual care is not synonymous with religious practice. This necessary differentiation is a constant point of tension for those of the authors in practice as pastoral counselors and chaplains. The push for a "quick fix" can impact issues of boundary setting, professional competence, and the balance of appropriate emotional and spiritual connection. When an individual receives a diagnosis of serious or life-limiting illness, the quintessential spiritual process of exploring meaning and purpose takes on an urgency all its own. The following Countertransference Tool Box delineates some of these perceptions, along with suggested exercises that might assist clinicians and organizations in recognizing and addressing these perceptions in themselves. The intersection of ambiguity and caring can lead even the most competent and sophisticated of clinicians down the street to countertransference.
