DESCRIPTION: A seminar for the advanced student for examination of major issues in cross-cultural pastoral counseling and psychotherapy. The interface of psychological anthropology, pastoral care, and counseling and transcultural theological reflection will be explored, and an appreciation of what is universal, cultural, and individual will be achieved.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the completion of this course the student will know at least two alternate cultural perspectives on the process of human change and growth in counseling, be able to define and recognize culturally capable approaches to persons in another culture, and will do effective self-critique of one's own attempts to cross-over in counseling interactions with others.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The pastoral counselor and caregiver in the twenty-first century serves in a multicultural world, wherever the parish, community, or ministry may be. This course confronts the caregiver/counselor with the tasks of moving from cultural encapsulation to living, working, and commuting across cultural boundaries. The class will seek to establish a community of learning from our cross-cultural, ethnic, sexual, religious experiences.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture, dialogue, experiential processes, growth exercises, small group interaction will facilitate the review and integration of relevant literature and research on the interface between pastoral counseling and the neighboring disciplines of anthropology, missiology, economic development, psychology, theology, and philosophy. The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Augsburger, D. Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures. Westminster, 1986.

_________. Conflict Mediation Across Cultures. Westminster John Knox, 1992.

Lartey, E. In Living Color An Intercultural Approach. Cassell 1997.

Lederach, John Paul. Preparing for Peace. Syracuse University Press, 1995.

Van Beek, Aart M. Cross Cultural Counseling. Fortress, 1996.