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.

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 weekly for a three-hour session, plus one-hour triad session outside of class.

A minimum of 1200 pp., including weekly assignments from the required and recommended reading:

Kok, James R. and Arthur E. Jongsma Jr. The Pastoral Counseling Treatment Planner. Wiley, 1998.

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

Expanded syllabus and readings available in bookstore.

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

_________. Helping People Forgive. Westminster John Knox Press, 1996.

Dayringer, Richard. The Heart of Pastoral Counseling. Haworth Press, 1998.

Egan, Gerard. The Skilled Helper. 5th edition. Brooks-Cole, 1994.

_________. Exercises in Helping Skills. 5th edition. Brooks-Cole, 1994.

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

Hunsinger, Deborah van Duesen. Theology and Pastoral Counseling: A New Interdisciplinary Approach. Eerdmans, 1995.

Hunter, Rodney. Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Abingdon, 1990.

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.

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

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

(1) Attend lectures, small group training sessions and write one-page report of training 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) Completion of assigned readings with annotated bibliography totaling 1,200 pages (15%). (4) Present a brief (5-7 pages) paper on a specific area of pastoral care and counseling such as depression, alcoholism, divorce, etc. (15%). (5) Do a reciprocal case study with a fellow student and demonstrate counseling skills in a small group examination with two other dyads and a professor or TA (30%).

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