Removing Planks from Our Eyes: Caring without Judging

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Removing Planks from Our Eyes Caring without
Judging

• Presented by
• Rabbi Suzanne Griffel
• Deborah Buscemi, LCSW

Midwest Palliative Hospice CareCenter 2050
Claire Ct., Glenview, IL 60025 847-467-7423 www.ca
recenter.org
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Introduction - Genesis of an idea

• The Holy Bible
• The New International Version
• Matthew 7 3-5
• Luke 6 37-38

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Introduction A Jewish Perspective

• Pirkei Avot 16
• Pirkei Avot 25
• Reprinted from Siddur Sim Shalom A Prayerbook
  for Shabbat, Festivals, and Weekdays

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Goal

• The goal of this workshop is to assist spiritual
  caregivers in identifying and continually
  assessing their own biases in an effort to
  provide best practices to those they serve.

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Objectives

• Identify the planks in our eyes.
• Provide case studies of care affected by
  judgmental bias.
• Discuss the difference between good judgment and
  being judgmental.
• Identify tools for removing planks.
• Provide experiential exercises to assist in
  moving from judgmentalism to mutual respect.

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What are the planks in our eyes Recognizing our
biases

• Even we who have a lifetime professional
  commitment to not being biased have biases.
• Our biases are often unconscious.
• Recognizing biases is an ongoing process.

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What is bias?

• A tendency to support or oppose a particular
  person or thing in an unfair way by allowing
  personal opinions to influence your judgment
• Cambridge University Dictionary

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Examples of Bias/ Prejudice

• Racism
• Ageism
• Religious/Cultural differences/stereotypes
• Homophobia
• Class differences
• Bias towards people who are verbal and highly
  educated
• YAVIS Young, Attractive, Verbal,
  Intelligent, Successful
• Ask yourself What are my biases?

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Case Studies

• when bias enters the helping relationship.
• Patients sons religious beliefs interfering
  with care?
• Clutter in the house low socio-economic status?

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What is judgment?

• A decision or opinion about something or someone
  after thinking carefully
• Cambridge University Dictionary

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What is judgmental?

• 1. Of, relating to, or involving judgment
• 2. Characterized by a tendency to judge harshly
• This is the connotation usually implied/inferred
  when the word
• judgment is used.
• Merriam Websters Dictionary

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Importance of not being judgmental

• Building trust to create a safe place for
  expression
• Increase individuals self-esteem and
  confidence
• Borealie Richardson Krammer et al Salem
  Warner

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Assessing Ourselves

• How do we keep our hearts open?
• How do we respect all individuals and respect
  ourselves?

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What is respect?

• Respect (HONOUR)   1. politeness, honour and
  care shown towards someone or something that is
  considered important
• 2. when you accept that something which is
  established or formally agreed is right or
  important and do not attempt to change it or harm
  it
• 3. when you accept that different customs or
  cultures are different from your own and behave
  towards them in a way which would not cause
  offence
• Cambridge University Dictionary

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Tools for removing planks

• Checking Biases At The Door
• Active Listening With An Open Heart
• Working To Overcome Our Biases

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Checking Biases At The Door

• Focus on positive feelings
• Feelings, positive or negative, can be felt or
  reacted to on a subliminal level
• Be aware of the planks
• Tune In
• Selby Warner

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What gets in the way of a helpful encounter?

• Biases
• Prejudices
• Acting in a judgmental manner

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Things to keep in mind

• Patients have had their own life experiences
  coloring their perceptions invariably this may
  be different from how we feel
• Meet them where they are this is more than
  physical location
• Tune in, focus on the here and now, and open
  yourself to really listen

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Exercise for tuning in

• Focus on the present moment
• Focus on your breath
• Focus on your intent
• Selby

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Guidelines for open listening

• Let individuals finish their thoughts
• Accept experiences as real
• Look for disconnect between verbal and non-verbal
• Validate and summarize what you hear
• Ask open ended questionsand wait
• Focus on what the other person is saying

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Working to overcome bias

• How do we work towards overcoming our biases?
• Examples
• Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work
• Personal Example Deb Buscemi

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Practical Lessons in Cultural Consciousness

• Veneta Masson, Fall 2005
• Get to know your patient, family and community
  and allow yourself to be known.
• Getting to know a patient takes time.
• Names are powerful.
• Ask about photographs.
• Learn your patients language.
• You may be the best medicine for your patient,
  you and the potential for healing that you evoke.

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Triads Exercise

• Interviewer
• Respondent
• Observer

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Closing Remarks

• It is a continuous process of maintaining
  awareness of self, introspection, learning,
  openness and growth.

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Summary

• We must continually assess our own biases
• We must understand the difference between good
  judgment and judgmentalism
• In the words of Veneta Masson
• Show. Respect. Period.

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Questions/Comments
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Bibliography

• Boreale, K. Richardson, B. (2004).
  Communications. In J. J. Panke P. Coyne (Eds.),
  Conversations in Palliative Care (pp. 27-40).
  Pittsburgh, PA Hospice and Palliative Nurses
  Association.
• Canfield, J., Hansen, M. V., Rogerson, M., Rutte,
  M., Clauss, T. (1996). The Power of Being
  Human. Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work (pp
  54-56). Florida Health Communications Inc.
• The Holy Bible. New International Version.
  Colorado Springs, CO International Bible
  Society.

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Bibliography

• Kramer, L. M., Hanks-Bell, M. J., Cappleman, J.
  (2004). Therapeutic Presence. In J. J. Panke P.
  Coyne (Eds.), Conversations in Palliative Care
  (pp. 189-200). Pittsburgh, PA Hospice and
  Palliative Nurses Association.
• Masson, V. (2005) Here to be seen Ten practical
  lessons in cultural consciousness in primary
  healthcare. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 12,
  (pp 94-98).
• Pirkei Avot. In Rabbi Jules Harlow (Ed.) Siddur
  Sim Shalom A Prayerbook for Shabbot, Festivals,
  and Weekdays. New York, NY The Rabbinical
  Assembly.

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Bibliography

• Salem, R. (2003). Empathic Listening. In G.
  Burgess H. Burgess (Eds.), Conflict Research
  Consortium. Boulder, CO University of Colorado.
  Posted July 2003. http//www.beyondintractabilit
  y.org/essay/empathic-listening/
• Selby, J. (2007). Listening with empathy.
  Charlottesville, VA Hamilton Road Publishing
  Company.
• Warner, Charles. (06/29/2008). Effective
  Listening
• OnLine.Availablehttp//www.CharlesWarner.us/Eff
  ective
• ListenExhibits.htm