Course Catalogue 2026-2027

This course introduces the major theoretical approaches and dominant theories in psychotherapy. Multiple models of psychotherapy will be presented to provide a framework for conceptual integration and application to clinical practice, including systemic, humanistic, psychodynamic, somatic, existential, and cognitive-behavioral. Approaches and interventions of each theoretical modality will be given critical appraisal with the goal of providing a foundation for ongoing learning. Throughout this course students will be encouraged to integrate the various psychotherapeutic approaches into their own model of spiritual care.

This course explores Buddhist approaches to death, dying, and grief across Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions through textual sources, ritual practices, and material culture. In addition to examining doctrinal interpretations of life, death and rebirth, students will become familiar with the ritual practices, chanting traditions, and pastoral responses associated with the dying process, funeral rites, and post-death memorial practices across historical and contemporary contexts. Particular attention will be given to how these practices are conducted and adapted with contemporary Buddhist and Asian communities in Canada. Through ritual demonstrations, engagement with Buddhist monastics and case analyses, this course offers a comprehensive foundation and hands-on experience for students preparing to engage with Buddhist chaplaincy and end-of-life care in Canadian society, as well as for those seeking a deeper understanding of the relationship between life and death from a Buddhist perspective

In a world where rehabilitation and transformation are often overlooked, this course delves into the vital role of spiritual care within the correctional context. "Spiritual Care and Transformation: Ministering to Incarcerated Souls" is an enriching exploration of the spiritual dimension of rehabilitation, designed for students at the intersection of theology and psychotherapy. Throughout this course, students will embark on a profound journey, discovering the unique challenges and opportunities in ministering to incarcerated individuals. We will delve into the complexities of mental health, the impact of incarceration on the human spirit, and the transformative power of faith and spiritual care within correctional facilities.

This course will address the issues and challenges surrounding the current pastoral care ministry in churches and explore the genuine role and function of pastoral care within the church. The course will delve into the biblical, theological, and historical foundations of pastoral care to reclaim the authentic pastoral identity that is not overly fixated on psychological theories, psychotherapeutic skills, and techniques, Students will also learn about the cure of souls in their denominational tradition to gain wisdom and inspiration from religious predecessors. The course aims to explore who provides care, whom the care is for, and how the care is given. The course will comprehensively analyze the development of pastoral care practices within the church, ranging from the Early Church to the Reformation, Modern, and Post-modern eras, in order to investigate how the church provides care, as well as to evaluate the evolution of methods and approaches employed over time. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze and evaluate the essential characteristics of pastoral care practices from classical models to contemporary approaches. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this course is to cultivate the authentic role and function of pastoral care ministry in the church by promoting a balanced approach that integrates classical, modern, and contemporary methods while maintaining its pastoral identity, so that the church can offer sufficient care to those in need.

This course will address the issues and challenges surrounding the current pastoral care ministry in churches and explore the genuine role and function of pastoral care within the church. The course will delve into the biblical, theological, and historical foundations of pastoral care to reclaim the authentic pastoral identity that is not overly fixated on psychological theories, psychotherapeutic skills, and techniques, Students will also learn about the cure of souls in their denominational tradition to gain wisdom and inspiration from religious predecessors. The course aims to explore who provides care, whom the care is for, and how the care is given. The course will comprehensively analyze the development of pastoral care practices within the church, ranging from the Early Church to the Reformation, Modern, and Post-modern eras, in order to investigate how the church provides care, as well as to evaluate the evolution of methods and approaches employed over time. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze and evaluate the essential characteristics of pastoral care practices from classical models to contemporary approaches. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this course is to cultivate the authentic role and function of pastoral care ministry in the church by promoting a balanced approach that integrates classical, modern, and contemporary methods while maintaining its pastoral identity, so that the church can offer sufficient care to those in need.

Pastoral Counselling for the non-professional counsellor engaged in ministry. The goals of the course include acquiring basic counselling skills, developing awareness of counter-transference and exploring how to refer to other professionals.

This course builds on the content of KNP1512, Foundations in Counselling and Spiritual Care, and has been designed to prepare students for practicums that integrate spiritual care and/or psychospiritual therapy. Students will gain an understanding of the impact of spiritual struggles and how spiritual listening and engagement with spiritual practices and beliefs can foster healing and wholeness. Students will be exposed to theological perspectives on spiritual care, the history of care of the soul, and ideas on the experience of spiritual pain as a force for transformation or despair. The themes of professional formation and communication styles will be discussed. Students will experience a variety of contemplative spiritual healing practices such as writing a lament, walking the labyrinth, and the practice of awe. The second half of the course will review and build on skills covered in core MPS courses with a focus on experiential learning to further prepare the student for their practicum. Skills may include but are not limited to building (and repairing) the therapeutic alliance, spiritual assessment, clinical documentation, engaging in spiritually integrated psychotherapy.

As an introduction to the major mental disorders, this course aims to prepare students for working with clients with serious mental health problems in private, institutional and community settings. The course focuses on a biopsychosocial and spiritual understanding of mental health and well-being. Utilizing the holistic approach to mental health, this course will explore classifications and symptomatology of the more severe and chronic forms of psychiatric disorder, their etiology and nature, and their diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) will be used as a reference point. The students will also be introduced to the critical influence of culture, class, race and ethnicity, religion, and social values of the individual, family, group, and social institutions in the assessment of mental health disorders. The course will critically review current classification systems and major theories regarding the nature of mental disorders, their diagnoses and etiologies, the treatment approaches available to help people in their recovery, and culturally relevant variables. As a result, the students will be able to critically utilize terminology and concepts in the DSM-5 and identify best practices in psychotherapy practice.

This course explores engaged Buddhist ethics and practice with a focus on interdependence – specifically, how this ethic of inter-mutuality informs engaged Buddhist approaches to human rights, peacebuilding, racial, gender, social, and environmental justice, and inter- and intra-faith dialogue in Asian and non-Asian contexts. The course materials are contemporary, intersectional, and diverse, and draw on academic and non-academic resources, as well as local, grassroots, and global initiatives. In addition to weekly group meetings and discussions, there will also be an opportunity to integrate individual interests in student research papers as well as individual and group presentations and projects.

This course is an exploration of the following themes in the light of Christian revelation: creation, the human person, sin, grace, and eschatology.

This course is an exploration of the following themes in the light of Christian revelation: creation, the human person, sin, grace, and eschatology.

This course introduces students to the spiritual, theological, professional and ethical foundations of Christian mission and ministry. Through a careful consideration of the sources of ministry including Scripture, the teaching of the magisterium, and religious congregational documents, the course invites students to forge and live out a theology of ministry enabling lifelong service in the current ecumenical, interreligious and postmodern context. Key aspects of ministry such as calling, discernment, formation, basic skills/competencies and ethical principles will be addressed. The relationship of ministry to other areas of theology, such as Christology, pneumatology, grace, mission, ecclesiology, and the sacraments, will also be considered.