Easing a patient’s distress with a six-string
As the chaplain supervisor with UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, Christopher Lamb often sets an acoustic guitar at the entrance of a patient’s room before entering.
“A lot of what we do as chaplains is show up when there’s acute emotional distress and help people identify the inner resources that they already have – that can support them in the moment,” Lamb said. “It could be emotional, a spiritual resource or something creative like art or music.”
One day, Lamb received a consult from the care team for an older patient who was experiencing distress, presenting a challenge for staff. After entering the patient’s room, Lamb set down the guitar case and walked in to meet the patient. She instantly looked at Lamb and said, “What’s in that case?”
Lamb pulled out the guitar, and the two were soon able to connect through folk-country music. The patient sang a favorite song that wasn’t familiar to Lamb, who went home and learned how to play it, returning to the bedside two days later to sing with the patient.
As the patient’s tensions eased, the care team connected her with her son. After years apart, they bonded over one of the songs she and Lamb had been singing. The son later thanked Lamb for their role in fostering the reconnection.
Lamb said playing guitar in the hospital “lifts the mood. Kind of like pet therapy dogs, I have my therapy guitar.”
Lamb joined UCHealth in 2017. Their path to becoming a chaplain started with summer camp experiences as a spiritual advisor and worship leader, which led to seminary.
“During my first semester of seminary, we had local hospital chaplains come visit our class to workshop with us, and a lightbulb went off for me,” Lamb said. “I could see myself doing that.”
Lamb’s chaplain role spans moments of joy and sorrow. They offer leadership during times of celebration, such as blessings of new patient care spaces. Often, their work involves providing emotional and spiritual support for patients and families during end-of-life care.
“My hope is: If we can show up well in difficult moments,” Lamb said, “then we can take what could be, potentially, a very traumatic situation and – instead – help the families experience what it is to be companioned and cared for through the most difficult moments.”