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  as well as community spaces (ie. as shelters, businesses, and airports).

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, emotional and existential well-being.

However, spiritual (pastoral) 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 (LCSW), and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), 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 (CPTSD), eating disorders, personality disorders, and psychosis.

Yes! You do not need to subscribe to any faith tradition in order to chat with me. These conversations about values and self-care are for everyone

I have no hidden religious, spiritual, or conversion agenda. 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.

As a chaplain, I am trained 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. You might find it liberating to speak in this low-stakes setting with someone who is not affiliated with your specific religious, spiritual or faith community.

I have no hidden religious, spiritual, or conversion agenda. 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.

I have no hidden religious, spiritual, or conversion agenda. 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.

Chaplains are confidential resources. I will not share your name or identifying information with anyone else without your consent.

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

I am providing 1:1 spiritual care as a part of my interfaith ministry and CPE chaplain training at no charge. If you would like to compensate, tip or support my chaplaincy work, please donate to St. Mary's ministry instead. You can donate through Zelle or Paypal (accounts@stmarysharlem.org) - please be sure to indicate it is a "contribution for spiritual care with Chaplain David."

If you are a Stanford student or colleague, this is a service that I provide as part of my full-time employment for the university.