DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide students with a conceptual and practical overview or mental illness and behavioral disorders within a pastoral framework. The minister will be able to distinguish between categories of mental disorders so he/she can properly refer the person for specialized care. Issues of crisis management, family problems, and developmental changes affecting the families of the congregation are also covered. Practical guidelines and principles of pastoral counseling are offered within a culturally sensitive and meaningful paradigm for the Hispanic.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Awareness of mental illness and the ability to recognize them in the context of the church will equip the minister to engage in adequate interventions in times of crisis or conflict. By the end of the course the minister will be able to utilize specific strategies and resources that increase his/her effectiveness as a pastoral counselor.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will be familiar with different types of mental and behavioral disorders. (2) Students will know different types of intervention strategies when dealing with mental disorders. (3) Students will develop listening skills. (4) Students will learn to identify their own limitations in counseling, and the ethics of the counseling relationship. (5) Students will identify resources within their communities with whom they can work together.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for three two-day sessions, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day on January 13, 14; February 10, 11; and March 10, 11. Class sessions will include lectures and discussions of life situations along with theoretical material. Students will participate in role playing and present cases from his/her ministry. Classes will be conducted in Spanish.

REQUIRED READING:

Capps, Donald. Jesus the village psychiatrist. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008. ISBN: 978-0664232405.

Malony, H. Newton & D. Augsburger. Christian counseling: An introduction. Nashville: Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687332830.

Polischuk, Pablo. El consejo terapéutico: Manual para pastores y consejeros. Barcelona: Editorial CLIE, 1994. ISBN: 8476457286.

Radillo, Rebeca. Cuidado pastoral: Ministerio con inmigrantes. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009. ISBN: 978-1426709500.

Beattie, M. Libérate de la codependencia. Madrid: Sirio, 2003. ISBN: 8478082336.

Cortes, F., R. Crane, V. Rodriguez & J. Sobarzo. Psicología: Conceptos psicológicos prácticos para el obrero cristiano. Miami: Editorial Unilit. ISBN: 0789910381.

Collins, G. & S. Mijangos. Consejería cristiana efectiva. Editorial Portavoz. ISBN: 0825411267.

Friedman, E. Generación a generación. Buenos Aires: Eerdmans, 1996.

Hogue, D. A. Remembering the future, imagining the past: Story, ritual, and the human brain. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2005. ISBN: 0829814592.

Landberg, M. D. En el umbral de la esperanza: Una puerta abierta hacia la sanidad de los sobrevivientes de abusos sexuales. Editorial Unilit. ISBN: 078991123X.

Maldonado, J. Crisis, pérdidas y consolación en la familia. Grand Rapids: Libros Desafio, 2002.

Roukema, R. W. Counseling for the soul in distress: What every pastoral counselor should know about emotional and mental illness. New York: Haworth, 2003.

Tan, S. Y. & J. Ortberg. Understanding depression: A short-term structured model. Baker, 1995.

Wright, N. Como aconsejar en situaciones de crisis. Barcelona: Libros CLIE. ISBN: 8476454473.

1. Each student will present a reading report at the February and March sessions. Reports selected from the recommended list or others relevant to the class approved by the instructor. (40%)

2. Each student will participate in role playing in class, and present a counseling case from his/her ministry at the March class. (30%)

3. Each student will develop a resource book of community services in their parish that addresses the issues identified in class. (30%)