Family Systems Theories for Spiritual Care & Psychospiritual Therapy

This course introduces students to practices of care with an emphasis on systems theories (family systems) in relation to self awareness, assessment, therapeutic planning in psycho-spiritual therapy and counselling. The first part of the course focuses on systems theories. Students will explore their own families and cultures of origin and their social identities as a means to learn the related theories and to develop self awareness (safe and effective use of self) for psycho-spiritual/ spiritual care therapy. In this first part of the course we will also examine and engage Internal family systems. The second part of the course will relate systems theories and intercultural approaches to the therapeutic process in the face of grief and loss, death and dying, suicide, trauma and crisis, aging and dementia. Through their understanding and use of systems theories, students' practice will be deepened in terms of the therapeutic relationship, assessment and treatment in spiritual care/ psycho-spiritual therapy. This course is suitable for students preparing for work in spiritual care/ psycho-spiritual therapy and for students preparing for leadership in congregational or social contexts.