Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care is a ministry of comforting presence and healing service that reaches deeper and beyond religious traditions to the very foundation of one's life – namely spirituality. The Spiritual Care team, made up of 7 qualified ministers and certified chaplains, are assigned to gender and age-specific units as well as the Outpatient Program.

Spiritual Care is primarily a ministry of presence and unconditional love, which focuses on the peace and well being of the whole person. Spirituality is a way of life that reveals through thinking, speaking and acting, the quality of relationships, conversations and daily events. It is widely recognized that a sense of hope, personal value and life purpose significantly affect one's quality of life and sense of wellness.

The primary focus of spiritual care is healing and wholeness in a 12-Step Model of care. Spiritual Care empowers patients, through 12-Step spiritual principles and other spiritual exercises, to tap into spiritual resources to promote peace of mind, to restore relationships, and to foster sobriety on the journey of recovery.

The Hanley Center mission is grounded in the dignity of human life which flows from our creation in the image of God. Spiritual Care offers sensitive counseling to help integrate one's physical condition and disease experience into one's belief system. This integration process involves the interaction of our spiritual convictions, traditions, relationships, coping skills and support mechanisms.

Spiritual Care encompasses the full range of spiritual services, which include a listening presence and spiritual help for patients coping with addiction and pain. Chaplains offer individual counseling, support, and individual grief and loss sessions to foster spirituality and wholeness.

Appointments can be made with any chaplain by simply making a request of any staff member. Moreover, patients are expected to interact with chaplains several times during their treatment in individual and group settings.


Our spiritual care services include the following:

  • A one-on-one Spiritual Assessment with the chaplain assigned to the unit.
  • Individual Spiritual Counseling to process unresolved pains, to address personal issues and to deepen your personal relationship with Higher Power.
  • A Chaplain will meet with a patient before completing Primary Care to discuss and design a continuing care spiritual plan to sustain you on your life-journey of sobriety.
  • Chaplains provide assistance and creative tools for patients to work on Steps One to Five.
  • Chaplains will meet with some patients to address unresolved losses and grief at weekly Grief Group sessions. Moreover, all patients will meet regularly with Chaplains in group settings for preparation, understanding and assistance with Steps 2, 3 4 and 5.
  • Hanley Center supports patients in their religious experience and offers several options to attend Religious Services on a weekly basis.
    • Synagogue - Protestant Services - Catholic Mass - off site
    • Interdenominational Prayer Services are offered throughout the year - on site
  • The Spiritual Care Department provides innovative, holistic treatments that address the entire person, spiritual, emotional and physical, while on the journey to healing, recovery and spiritual awakening, including:
    • Pet therapy
    • Music therapy - walkmans, music selections and musical instruments
    • Seeing/Drawing therapy
    • Labyrinth meditation walk
    • Sculpture therapy
  • The Meditation Chapel is an inviting, hospitable prayer place to rest and be. It is open and available every day to patients from 7:00 am to 9:00 PM.
  • A community outreach Spiritual Support Group - off campus - is available to patients and alumni in need of going deeper in Phase Two.
To learn more and request a free brochure click here.