loving attention with charity,

loving attention with charity,

Watson’s 10 Caritas Processes

The word “Caritas” is Latin. It means cherish, appreciate, and give special or loving attention with charity, compassion, and generosity of spirit. Caritas is very fine and precious, and must be actively cultivated to be sustained (Watson, 2008).

Over the years, Watson has developed and refined 10 Caritas Processes to guide nurses and others in applying her theoretical constructs, and cultivating caring moments and caring occasions in their own professional practices. They may also be used to form philosophical and professional practice foundations at broader levels in clinical and academic settings. The list of 10 Caritas Processes presented here will form the basis of study for the remainder of this book. They will be addressed in more detail in subsequent chapters:

1. Sustaining humanistic-altruistic values by practice of loving kindness, compassion, and equanimity with self/others.

2. Being authentically present, enabling faith/hope/belief system; honoring subjective inner, life-world of self/others.

3. Being sensitive to self and others by cultivating own spiritual practices; beyond ego-self to transpersonal presence.

4. Developing and sustaining loving, trusting–caring relationships.

5. Allowing for expression of positive and negative feelings – authentically listening to another person’s story.

6. Creatively problem-solving-“solution-seeking” through caring process; full use of self and artistry of caring-healing practices via use of all ways of knowing/being/doing/ becoming.

7. Engaging in transpersonal teaching and learning within context of caring relationship; staying within other’s frame of reference – shift toward coaching model for expanded health/wellness.

8. Creating a healing environment at all levels; subtle environment for energetic authentic caring presence.

9. Reverentially assisting with basic needs as sacred acts, touching mindbodyspirit of

other; sustaining human dignity.

10. Opening to spiritual, mystery, unknowns – allowing for miracles (WatsonCaringScience.org)

Source: Sitzmann, K. & Watson, J. (2014). Caring science, mindful practice: Implementing Watson’s human caring theory. New York: Springer Publishing