Winter 2008/Pasadena
CN520
Hammer
CN520: PASTORAL COUNSELING. Ronald Hammer.
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 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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1)
a better understanding of and an ability to interpret individual experience,
family relationship patterns, culture, and congregational life; (2) skills in
counseling individuals, families, and congregations; (3) the ability to more
deeply empathize with people to whom they minister; (4) more motivation to
engage in ministries of giving care, prevention education, and the healing of
persons; and (5) more commitment to self-development and self-care.
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 offering effectual therapeutic
intervention and support as well as facilitating the pastoral care of the
people of God surrounding the counselee.
COURSE FORMAT: 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 will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions, including
the required small group sessions.
REQUIRED READING: 1200 pp. minimum, including weekly assignments from required
& recommended texts:
- Miller, William and K. Jackson. Practical Psychology for
Pastors. 2nd ed. Prentice-Hall, 1994.
- Course Reader with expanded syllabus and readings.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Augsburger, David. Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures.
Westminster, 1976.
- _________. Helping People Forgive. Westminster John Knox Press,
1996.
- Ciarrocchi, Joseph W. A Minister's Handbook of Mental Disorders.
Paulist Press, 1993.
- Cooper-White, P. Shared Wisdom: Use of the Self in Pastoral
Care and Counseling. Augsburg, 2003.
- Egan, Gerard. The Skilled Helper. 5th ed. and Exercises
in Helping Skills. 5th ed. Brooks-Cole, 1994.
- Gerkin, Charles. The Living Human Document. Abingdon, 1984.
- Graham, Larry Kent. Care of Persons, Care of Worlds. Abingdon,
1992.
- Hunsinger, Deborah van Duesen. Theology and Pastoral Counseling.
Eerdmans, 1995.
- Kornfield, Margaret. Cultivating Wholeness: A Guide to Care and
Counseling in Faith Communities. Continuum, 1998.
- McBride, J. LeBron. Spiritual Crisis: Surviving Trauma to the Soul,
Haworth, 1998.
- Oglesby, William. Biblical Themes for Pastoral Care.
Abingdon, 1980.
- Patton, John. Pastoral Counseling: A Ministry of the Church.
Abingdon, 1983.
- _________. Pastoral Counseling in Context. Westminster/John Knox,
1993.
- Ramsay, Nancy. Pastoral Care and Counseling: Redefining The
Paradigms. Abingdon, 2005.
- Wicks, R., R. Parsons, & D. Capps, eds. Clinical Handbook of
Pastoral Counseling. Integration, 1985.
ASSIGNMENTS: (1) Attend lectures and small group sessions (30%). (2) Attend
one session of a 12-step group (AA, NA, etc.) and write a report with
theological and psychological analysis (10%). (3) Present a brief (7-10 pp.)
paper on a specific area of pastoral care and counseling such as depression,
alcoholism, divorce, etc (35%). (4) Do a case study (5-7 pp.) on five
counseling sessions done during the quarter (25%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Counseling
(MIN 5).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (12/07)