Spiritual Care Services in La Crosse

Professional spiritual care providers, also called chaplains, offer emotional and spiritual support and comfort to enhance peace and healing. Chaplains empower individuals to draw upon their values and beliefs throughout their medical journey. This service is based on scientific research showing that spiritual support contributes to well-being and healing in a significant way.

Mayo Clinic Spiritual Care providers support patients, families and staff as they engage their faith, hope and spiritual practices as vital resources for healing and well-being. Mayo Clinic chaplains are an integrated part of the healthcare team. Our aim is to respect, affirm and foster wholeness during the healthcare journey for people in the various ways they search and find purpose, meaning and hope, including all religions and spiritual paths. 

Please contact your local site regarding current services available.

Patient and staff care

Chaplains are available to patients, visitors and staff to provide these services:

• Accompany those in crisis, facing trauma and stress, experiencing grief, walking through organ donation, mortality, or end of life.
• Consult on ethical and cultural concerns, including decision making and completing a Healthcare Power of Attorney.
• Listen and offer spiritual and emotional support for those exploring spirituality and meaning, facing life transitions and searching for ways to cope.
• Share and facilitate prayer, sacraments, and rituals and help connect with faith and cultural leaders.

Education

The spiritual care department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire Hospital has a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program that provides students with the opportunity to learn about spiritual care practice while providing care to patients, families and staff. Chaplains also regularly work with patients, families and staff to provide education and information regarding their services.

Clinical Pastoral Education

Note: The program is currently on hold. Watch for more information when it resumes in 2026.

The Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire Hospital CPE program has a history extending over 40 years. This one-year residency provides residents of all religious and spiritual backgrounds with an experience-based theological education, distinguished by excellence in multiple medical specialties and interdisciplinary teamwork in the state-of-the-art Mayo Clinic facilities.

Accredited by the ACPE in Level I/II CPE, this relational, experiential, transformational educational process trains future spiritual care leaders in the areas of Spiritual Formation and Integration, Awareness of Self and Others, Relational Dynamics, Spiritual Care Interventions and Professional Development with an emphasis on integrating one’s life experience with one’s understanding of spiritual care.

Residents work alongside board-certified chaplains learning the art and best practices of spiritual care. The depth of our training empowers residents to realize their full potential to emotionally support, help alleviate suffering and spiritually strengthen those in their care, as well as themselves.

For more information regarding CPE, visit Clinical Pastoral Education Residency Program.

Research

Spiritual Care not only provides excellent clinical practice and strong academic education but also contributes to research. Over the years, the spiritual care staff across the Mayo Clinic enterprise have initiated, collaborated and produced numerous studies in peer-reviewed journals. As experts in spiritual care, they have presented their findings nationally and globally. Furthermore, Mayo Clinic chaplains serve as peer-reviewed journal editors and reviewers, committee members, mentors and educators beyond the walls of Mayo Clinic.

Site and contact information

Meditation room locations

Comfortable meditation rooms are available 24/7 for patients, families and staff.

• Third floor — Room Lh 3-301B
• Fourth floor — Room Lh 4-301B
• Fifth floor — Room Lh 5-301B
• Sixth floor — Room Lh 6-301B

Contact a chaplain

Chaplains are available 24/7 in the La Crosse hospital. Contact the hospital switchboard at 608-785-0940 for more information.