Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

William Townsend

Keywords

Chaplain, clinical pastoral education, CPE, spiritual care, fire chaplain

Disciplines

Counseling | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of fire chaplains with CPE training who used CPE competencies when caring for firefighters. The foundation of spiritual care was based on the ten identified competencies used in CPE. The gap addressed in this research was the lack of spiritual care training for fire chaplains. Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s model of companioning served as the theoretical foundation guiding this research. This model of care emphasized a human-centered, heart-based approach, including active listening, empathy, and the practice of presence, which were essential components for fire chaplains providing spiritual care. This study examined the role of fire chaplains from the FFC who had received CPE training and were familiar with CPE competencies. The sample size was 8 to 12 members of the FFC organization. The data were transcribed, analyzed, and then interpreted. Since the chaplains were located in different states, Microsoft Teams was the preferred method of communication for the interviews. Fire chaplains provided spiritual care to firefighters who dealt with stress, including but not limited to moral injury (MI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse, and suicide. This research was intended to substantiate how the skills learned in CPE benefited both the firefighter and the fire chaplain.

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