Generalists and Specialists, Who are they?

Generalists and Specialists, Who are they?

Generalists: Generalists are knowledgeable well trained professionals who are non-specialists but are qualified to handle general issues and problems related to the particular profession, doing a little here and there. They are qualified professionals, they are not quacks, only that they are non-specialists.

In medical practice such generalists are called General Practioners (GP) who are qualified to engage in general medical practices only.

Likewise in chaplaincy profession, generalists are professional chaplains who are known as General Chaplaincy Practioners (GCP), qualified and knowledgeable to handle general issues and problems related to chaplaincy practice and spiritual care provision. They are however not quacks but also non-specialists.

Specialists: Specialists are professionals who have specialized in one or two field of studies or area in a particular given profession and have become specialist professionals in their areas of specializations and fields. Specialist usually attain such enviable positions after a higher or specialized professional studies and training.

Examples of specialists in medical profession are pathologists, epidemiologists, virologists, pediatricians, orthopedic doctors, radiologists, ophthalmologists, gynecologists and many more.

In chaplaincy, chaplains undergo specialized training and studies after general chaplaincy studies regarding the areas of specialization and fields of their choices. They are called specialists professional chaplains.

Examples of specialist chaplains are health care chaplains (which involves hospital chaplaincy, hospice and palliative care chaplaincy, mental health care, one need to specialize in one of them.), clinical psychotherapists or psychospirituotherapists, critical incidents and emergency management, dispute/conflict resolution, marriage/family chaplaincy, education/school chaplaincy, correctional service chaplaincy, police chaplaincy, military chaplaincy, chaplaincy educator etc.

There are open widows for all chaplains to specialize in any area or field of chaplaincy but such chaplains must understand that they have to start their practices as General Practioners before advancing to their areas of specialty.

Commence your professional now as you engage in professional chaplaincy training and education, earn enough units of CCPE and be prepared to approach the professional body for certification.

Chap. Prof. David Mike

Certified Chaplaincy Educator