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Staff Spotlight on Chaplain John Reynolds

A Heart for Chaplaincy

Chaplain John Reynolds, M.Div., M.A.R., has been a Pastor for more than 20 years. But it was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that he also became a Chaplain in end-of-life care. That was when he joined Crossroads in Cincinnati part time and learned that being a Chaplain was a natural good fit.

John developed a heart for chaplaincy while continuing to work as a Pastor. Today, he continues to balance both positions very well. 

Before becoming a full-time Chaplain at Crossroads, John began his required Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training, working in clinical settings and learning how to provide non-denominational spiritual support to patients and their families. He admits this is a contrast to the “traditional church environment.”

Through his training, John began counseling patients and families in some of their worst moments. Looking back on that period, John said, his “heart grew during that season of life.” 

CPE training was very different than the training John received as a Pastor responsible for a church pulpit and congregation. According to John, it required a heightened level of sensitivity and empathy, along with demanding questions from patients, families, CPE supervisors and peers. The rigorous CPE training helped John and his fellow chaplain interns grow and evolve in their understanding of interfaith pastoral care. 

Now, John is comfortable supporting patients and families of any faith background, including none. He considers this one of the most interesting and rewarding aspects of his career.

Building Relationships through Spiritual Care

John is naturally affable and loves working with people. He cares deeply for every patient he meets and approaches each interaction by trying to understand a patient’s perspective. 

Through his work in hospice and palliative care, John has met people from all walks of life, “encountering some of the best people” he’s ever spoken to through his work as a Chaplain. The patients and families have been “overall wonderful.”

John makes time to remain involved in CPE training as a supervisor, helping support and guide others who are developing their own Chaplaincy skills. 

He has also built strong relationships with Crossroads coworkers during his years of service. 

He appreciates that every day brings something different. John loves that his daily work also gives him opportunities to connect with doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteer managers and bereavement coordinators, all the members of the end-of-life integrated care team. 

Outside of work, John has been happily married for 27 years. He and his lovely wife have one son who is 20 and attending bible college. John is adjusting to life after avidly coaching his son’s soccer teams for many years. John is someone who looks for the simple and the good in everyday life.

Eat Better, Feel Better—Just in Time for Summer

By Emily Hammer
Summer is right around the corner – it’s the perfect time to give your nutrition a glow-up!

With your My Benefits Work benefit, employees have access to Registered Dietitians at a discounted rate of $63 per consultation. Here's a quick summary of the benefit:

Nutrition Benefit - Powered by Teladoc

• Work one-on-one with a Registered Dietitian to develop a personalized eating plan
• Support for health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and more
• Meal plans, grocery guides, and real-life strategies
• $63 per consultation

Employees can request a Teladoc visit on their My Benefits Work mobile app or member portal and select nutrition. You will be given a drop-down list of options indicating the reason for the nutrition visit request, like build muscle/increase strength, Food Allergy/Intolerance, General Health Improvement, Gut Health, etc. You will be able to see registered dieticians and their available times for a virtual visit.
 
It's a straightforward and affordable benefit that you can take advantage of right away.

1. Open My Benefits Work app
2. Go to Teladoc (No Visit Fee)
3. Select Nutrition
4. Choose your reason (weight management, muscle building, general health, etc.)  
5. Prior to your visit, ensure your medical history is updated.
6. Pick your provider and schedule your visit.

It’s quick, simple, and totally worth it.

One small step – big wins in time for summer!

If you have any questions about this amazing benefit, please reach out to your HR department.

A Simple Grounding Technique to Calm Anxiety

Are you struggling with anxiety, feeling stressed out, or overwhelmed? We all do from time to time. Here's a simple grounding exercise that could be helpful. 

When you’re feeling anxious, try the following tips to bring yourself back to the present moment. Remember, in the present moment everything is OK:

• Take a look around your environment and pick out 5 things you can see. For example, pick a color and find five things that match that color.
• Close your eyes and name four things you can hear. Is the air conditioning blowing, are dogs barking outside, is your cat purring? Pay attention and name those things you hear around you.
• What are three things that you can touch or feel? Pick something up and really focus on the shape, weight, and texture. Or take off your shoes and socks and feel the floor beneath you.
• What do you smell in your environment? Is it a sweet-smelling candle or dinner in the oven? Concentrate on what you’re smelling in the moment.
• Name one thing you can taste. Take a sip of water or bite into an apple. Allow your sense of taste to bring you into the present moment. Remember that place where everything is OK? Yeah, let’s go there.

If you’re interested in reading more about this technique, you can check out this article.

Remember: you have access to My Benefits Work which offers free mental health services and telemedicine. Download the mobile app and register; and use it when you need it! It’s free!

Namaste, 

Emily