DESCRIPTION:

Pastoral counseling as a specialized ministry within the field of pastoral care will be explored didactically and practically in the preparation of persons who plan to do pastoral counseling and pastoral psychology. 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.

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 offering effectual therapeutic intervention and support as well as facilitating the pastoral care of the people of God surrounding the counselee.

Lecture, discussion, audio-visuals, case studies, experiential exercises, triads utilizing counseling skill training processes, and practice in simulated counseling circumstances will integrate theory, theology, and practice.

The course meets two times each week for two hours, including small group sessions with a teaching assistant to be arranged separately.

A minimum of 1200 pages which includes weekly assignments from the syllabus and these basic texts:

Ciarrocchi, Joseph W. A Minister's Handbook of Mental Disorers, Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1993.

Miller, William and K. Jackson. Practical Psychology for Pastors. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1994.

Expanded syllabus and readings available in bookstore.

Augsburger, David. Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976.

Gerkin, Charles. The Living Human Document. Nashville: Abingdon, 1984.

Oglesby, William. Biblical Themes for Pastoral Care. Nashville: Abingdon, 1980.

Patton, John. Pastoral Counseling: A Ministry of the Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1983.

_________. Pastoral Counseling in Context. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993.

Pruyser, Paul. The Minister as a Diagnostician. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976.

Switzer, David. The Minister as Crisis Counselor. Nashville: Abingdon, 1976.

Wicks, R., R. Parsons, and D. Capps, eds. Clinical Handbook of Pastoral Counseling. New York: Integration Books, 1985.

(1) Attend lectures and small group training sessions. (2) Participate in a training triad for eight to ten sessions of skill formation using selected exercises. (3) Attend one session of a 12-step group (AA, NA, etc.) and write a report with theological and psychological analysis. (4) Present a brief (5-7 pages) paper on a specific area of pastoral care and counseling such as depression, alcoholism, divorce, etc. (5) Do two videotaped simulated counseling sessions.

None.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Pastoral Counseling (MIN 5).

Yes. An oral exam consisting of a 20 minute videotaped simulated counseling session to demonstrate acquired counseling skills.