RT Article T1 Existential group practice run by mental healthcare chaplains in Norway: a nationwide cross-sectional study JF Mental health, religion & culture VO 20 IS 8 SP 713 OP 727 A1 Frøkedal, Hilde A1 Stifoss-Hanssen, Hans A1 Ruud, Torleif A1 DeMarinis, Valerie A1 Gonzalez, Marianne Thorsen LA English PB Taylor & Francis YR 2017 UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1839000619 AB Existential groups run by healthcare chaplains within mental healthcare have a long tradition in Norway. By using a national cross-sectional survey design, this study explored and described both quantitatively and qualitatively these groups’ characteristics. Quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics and content analysis inspired by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyse the qualitative data. The current existential group practice was present in 11 of 25 Norwegian health authorities and across service levels. Five different group approaches, all addressing patients’ existential, spiritual and religious needs and issues, were identified and described. The existential groups were in general eclectic and applied a variety of therapeutic strategies representing group psychotherapy, existential therapy and clinical pastoral care. The findings suggest that this Norwegian existential group practice can be regarded as a well-established and integrated part of the Norwegian mental healthcare. Researchers are challenged to further qualitatively explore this Norwegian existential group practice. K1 Mental Health K1 clinical pastoral care K1 existential therapy K1 group practice K1 Group Psychotherapy DO 10.1080/13674676.2017.1400528