DESCRIPTION: Pastoral counseling as a specialized ministry within the field of pastoral care will be explored didactically and practically in preparing persons who plan to do counseling and pastoral care. A survey of counseling theory from an integrative perspective, with attention to particular ministry issues, will be incorporated into a practical format in a community setting.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (a) knowledge in integrating one's own theological background, culture, or tradition and psychology in the context of caring and healing; (b) basic counseling skills in helping their congregations in the context of relationships; (c) greater appreciation of human diversity in the midst of suffering; (d) a renewed vision and creativity in the ministries of care giving, prevention education, and the healing of persons; and (e) commitment to self-care and ethics through the journey of grace.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: To pastor effectively is to be available to people in crisis, in growth passages, and in change throughout the life cycle. The pastoral counselor is capable of both utilizing resources within their own tradition, as well as bridging the counselee to the community of grace.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will utilize lecture, discussion, audio-visual presentations, ministry outreach, reading reflection, experiential exercise, triads role-play and feedback. The course will meet weekly for three-and-a-half-hour sessions, including the required triad sessions.

REQUIRED READING: 1,200 page minimum, including weekly assignments from required and recommended texts:

Dayringer, Richard. The Heart of Pastoral Counseling: Healing through Relationship. Haworth Pastoral Press, 1998.

Doehring, C. The Practice of Pastoral Care: A Postmodern Approach. Westminster John Knox, 2006.

Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Lament for a Son. Eerdmans, 1987.

Course Reader with expanded syllabus and readings.

1. Attend lectures and participate in triad sessions (20% of grade).

2. One self-awareness summary paper (3 pages) addressing (a) critical moments of grace in the past, (b) image of an ideal pastoral counselor, (c) theological or biblical assumption of pastoral counseling, (d) cultural assumption of pastoral counseling, (e) interplay of personal relationship with God in the ministry of care (15%, due 2nd week of class).

3. Submit 2 verbatim case studies (10-minute excerpts) from triad sessions that demonstrate basic counseling skills (20%, due mid-term).

4. Ministry outreach project: Choose an area or population of interest (mentally-ill, disabled, hospitalized, addiction, substance abuse, premarital/marital conflict, parenting problem, senior, minority, etc.) that is available for outreach and counseling, apply skills and knowledge learned in class, and write a full report of counseling progress (5 sessions) (40%, due final week).

5. Self-care log: A brief report (1 page) of how one applies the self-care discipline throughout the quarter (5%).