What is a Chaplain? An Interview with David Franzblau

Today, SevenPonds speaks with David Franzblau, a Chaplain currently working at Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California. He will answer a few of our questions about being a chaplain and will offer some tips that anyone can do.

Gabriella: David, can you tell me what a chaplain is, and what kind of duties one may perform as a chaplain?

David: Generally, a chaplain works in institutions such as schools, prisons and hospitals. I work in a hospital, my  job is to provide spiritual and religious support. As chaplains, we generally provide spiritual care to the patients, families and staff.

Gabriella: Do you have a particular religious focus? 

David: I have an interfaith focus, which means that I am open to and respectful of every religion.

Gabriella: Since a Chaplain is usually associated with a religion, how do you support people of different religions or even people who aren’t religious?  

David: As a chaplain, when I go into a patient’s room, I am there to focus on the patient’s religious/spiritual beliefs. The key is being with the person as they are and focusing on their feelings. When appropriate, I ask the patient how their particular faith supports them. It all depends on the person; sometimes people just need to talk, and I am there to listen.

People tend to feel the need to give advice or fix someone’s problems. But initially people may not want advice, or are not ready for it. One of the best things to offer is listening.

Gabriella: In addition to helping people who are terminally ill, how do you assist their families get through these times? 

David: I talk with families about their feelings, about what is happening to their loved one—about the grief that comes up when a loved one is terminally ill.  There also may be cases where it is appropriate to talk with the family about treatment options (e.g. code status).  Of course, there may also be time spent praying with the family (when appropriate).

David’s Tips for listening:

1. Be nonjudgmental

2. Clarify the situation

3. Be an active listener, rephrase to clarify what they said

4. Ask questions to make sure you understand

5. Know how to phrase things

Gabriella: Along with helping people who are terminally ill, you also mentioned that you assist the hospital staff?

David: Yes, if you look at the hospital staff, every staff member has a personal life. The Chaplain is there to talk to the staff and listen to them. Lets say they are dealing with a traumatic event, I am there to listen and provide comfort.

Gabriella: When and how did you realize that this profession was right for you?

David: Well, that was a journey in and of itself. Each person becomes a chaplain for their own reasons. In my case, I started out volunteering with a peace project to explore the end of life. It was part spiritual and also took a Buddhist focus. Mostly I was looking at values of ends of life, of death and dying. The experience eventually planted a seed, and a couple years later it seemed like a good place for me.

Gabriella: Thank you again David, it has been a pleasure talking and learning about something so important.

David: Of course!

More SevenPonds Interviews:

• What is Expressive Arts Therapy? An Interview with Adriana Marchione
• What is Elder Therapeutic Care Management? An interview with Kira Reginato
• What is an End of Life Advocate? An Interview with Betsy Trapasso