Past Counslng;process/Skills

Catalog description

Taught by DSPT. Highlighting pastoral case material and interpersonal process, the course introduces students to the basic interviewing skills of pastoral counseling and provides an overview of clinical psychopathology. This course understands psycho¬logical distress within the context of pastoral counseling from a biopsychosocial and spiritual perspective. The challenges of trauma, addiction, and recovery are especially highlighted. Through interviewing and group facilitation, students will hopefully experience themselves as pastoral agents of healing. Taught from a clinical psychodynamic perspective with attention to professional ethics for pastoral ministers, direct experience with underserved populations is required - students will be offered short term pastoral opportunities with homeless populations recovering from trauma and/or addiction. These community engaged learning opportunities are scheduled for some late afternoons on Friday and/or two Saturdays during the semester. Regularly scheduled sessions meet at St. Albert Priory in Oakland. Intended audience: MDiv, MA, MTS COURSE GOALS: 1) Provide an overview of the spectrum of abnormal psychology and how to identify and work with psychopathology within pastoral counseling. 2) Offer the content and skills foundation for a practical and experiential understanding of clinical assessment, formulation, and therapeutic interventions and how they serve as resources for effective and ethical pastoral counseling. 3) Develop the basic scholarly foundation for students seeking careers in clinical psychology, pastoral counseling, or related fields.