« Back to the Course Catalog index

PA510CE Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling





Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling

Pastoral care is part of the daily life of the deacon and all ministers in pastoral assignments. Pastoral counseling incorporates additional theories into the process. Through this course, deacons and their colleagues in ministry will gain the knowledge and skills to be more comfortable in offering pastoral.

Course Focus

Pastoral counseling has been defined as a form of counseling that integrates religious resources with behavioral sciences.  It is a branch of counseling that uses insights and principles derived from theology and psychology to work with groups, families, couples, and individuals in order to achieve spiritual and emotional well-being.

While professional pastoral counseling is performed by ordained ministers, rabbis, and priests and others with degrees in pastoral counseling, the purpose of this course is to serve as an introduction to pastoral counseling with a focus on the deacon’s role in pastoral counseling using specific case scenarios.

Professional pastoral counselors are licensed before entering into practice.  This course does not lead to licensure but serves as a primer for deacons and their colleagues in ministry to acquire basic skills and an appreciation of pastoral counseling.

Included Topics

This course encompasses a large part of pastoral counseling and includes:

What Is Pastoral Counseling? Advanced Challenging Skills
The Spiritual Dimension of Pastoral Counseling Advanced Action Planning Skills
Basic Counseling Mistakes Specialty Scripture, Prayer, and Intervention Skills
The Basic Structure of Pastoral Counseling Sessions A Model for Pastoral Counseling
Basic Listening Skills Pastoral Counseling in Relation to Other Counseling Methods
Advanced Listening Skills Professionalism

Course Components  

This course draws from the disciplines of

  • Pastoral theology ·        Pastoral counseling
  • Sociology ·        Psychology

to emphasize the critical importance of ministering to people as they seek to live healthy lives.

Course Objectives      

Upon completion of this course, the Deacon will be able to:

  • Identify and value the differences between Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counseling.
  • Recognize and apply various counseling theories and techniques.
  • Consider Pastoral Counseling as a professional development.

Required Materials

The following book will be used throughout the course, beginning in Week 3.

Cheydleur, J. R. (1999). Called to counsel. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

ISBN 0-8423-3243-X


Course Syllabus

 

Rationale

  

Pastoral care is part of the daily life of the deacon. Pastoral counseling incorporates additional theories into the equation. Deacons will be able to feel more comfortable as they offer pastoral care to their parishioners when they have these additional theories at hand.

 
 

Course Focus

  

Pastoral counseling has been defined as a form of counseling that integrates religious resources with behavioral sciences.  It is a type of counseling that uses insights and principles derived from theology and psychology to work with groups, families, couples, and individuals in order to achieve emotional well-being.

 

While professional pastoral counseling is performed by ordained ministers, rabbis, and priests or those with degrees in pastoral counseling, the purpose of this course is to serve as an introduction to pastoral counseling, the deacon’s role in pastoral counseling, and how to counsel pastorally using specific case scenarios.

 

Professional pastoral counselors are licensed before entering into practice.  This course does not lead to licensure but serves as a primer for deacons to acquire basic skills and an appreciation of pastoral counseling.

 
 

Included Topics

  

The following topics have been chosen for this course since they encompass a large part of pastoral counseling.  They include:

 

•       What Is Pastoral Counseling?

 

 •       Advanced Challenging Skills
•       The Spiritual Dimension of Pastoral Counseling

 

 •       Advanced Action Planning Skills
•       Basic Counseling Mistakes

 

 •       Specialty Scripture, Prayer, and Intervention Skills

 
•       The Basic Structure of  Pastoral Counseling Sessions

 

 •       A Model for Pastoral Counseling
•       Basic Listening Skills

 

 •       Pastoral Counseling in Relation to Other Counseling Methods

 
•       Advanced Listening Skills •       Professionalism

 

 
 

Course Components

  

This course draws from the disciplines of

 

·        Pastoral theology ·        Pastoral counseling
·        Sociology ·        Psychology

 

to emphasize the critical importance of ministering to people as they seek to live healthy lives.

 
 

Course Material Integration

  

Materials used in this course will be drawn from:

 

·        Texts

·        Current research

·        Practical pastoral experiences

 

in order to help deacons adequately respond to the issues faced by today’s people of faith.

 






Related courses