Course Catalogue 2025-2026

This course provides spiritual caregivers with an overview of essential models of psychotherapy using Peter VanKatwyk's (2003) Therapeutic Strategies Map as an orienting framework. Insights from psychotherapeutic theory, sensitively and responsibly applied, enhance the practice of spiritual care. The overview provides a foundation for students who wish to study a particular model in depth and who wish to integrate these concepts into their practice through a supervised learning process. Knowledge of psychotherapeutic theories will also assist spiritual and pastoral providers in making necessary referrals when client needs are outside their scope of practice.

This course will introduce central theoretical concepts in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and their importance in effective clinical work. An underlying premise of the course is that therapeutic action occurs within the relationship between therapist and patient, two individuals who struggle together to reclaim and deepen their shared humanity. While theory is essential to the task of providing responsible clinical care, it is understood that it always follows deeply attentive, empathic observation, not only of the patient, but of the psychodynamic processes that occur between the therapist and patient. Theory helps to ‘hold’ and ‘contain’ the therapist as she enters the unique, often strange and at times disturbing inner world of the person who seeks her help. Theory must always be held lightly while it is actively operative in the mind of the therapist as he navigates his way through the world that emerges within the analytic setting. A solid grounding in psychodynamic theory helps the therapist maintain a calm receptivity to the patient in the midst of unknowing, which most often characterizes the immediacy of clinical work. It also helps the therapist cultivate and sustain a reflective use of herself that establishes a safe and supportive professional framework that holds and protects both parties in the clinical dyad.

Overview and critical survey of the main elements of Bernard Lonergan's thought emphasizing his contribution as a significant Canadian thinker and the Thomistic and Ignatian context of this thought. We will emphasize Lonergan's philosophy of intentional consciousness, its basis for philosophical and theological method, the application of his method to select topics in systemic theology, social development, and post-humous developments of this thought.

Experiences of worry and anxiety are a normal part of living, and they can be helpful and adaptive in moderate amounts. But intense worry and anxiety tends to interfere with our ability to cope by creating a negative and paralyzing perception of reality. Anxious thoughts and beliefs can negatively affect our relationships, our ability to work and play, and our spiritual self. Excessive anxiety can be life-limiting until we discover healthy ways of working with these intense thoughts and emotions. This course offers helping professionals an understanding of the therapeutic principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and how these therapies engage worry and anxiety. Students are required to enter this course with a foundational understanding of CBT. Spiritual and theological understandings of worry and anxiety will be discussed with a view toward applying DBT and ACT principles with spiritually-oriented clients.

Reconciliation in the Church today; a practical "case approach" to the ministry of sacramental reconciliation; art of the confessor.

This entry-level-to-practice, interdisciplinary course will examine the phenomenology of trauma as it impinges on human beings (individuals, families, cultural groups) from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of care. Special consideration given to contemporary, evidence-based treatments from a range social science disciplines, as well a credible intervention practices from religious and spiritual traditions- such as mindfulness, hoping-building, meaning-making, and forgiveness protocols- and their potential roles in healing of both direct and vicarious forms of trauma. The following major areas will be explored: 1) Trauma in Childhood, Adolescence, and the Family; 2) Trauma and Disrupted Attachment Relationships; 3) Trauma as Health Crisis {Physical and Mental); 4} Trauma and Women; 5) Trauma as Socio-Historical Events, such as: a) Natural Disasters, b) Terrorism and War Conflicts; c) Cultural Genocide, Religious Persecution and Refugees, d) Cultural Oppression and Victimization of First Nations Peoples; 6) Trauma and Resiliency. Throughout the course will be the pervasive themes of the self-care of the clinician, and the fostering of client resource through spiritual, family and community resources, leading to healing and posttraumatic growth

This course explores psycho-spiritual work with dreams from a Jungian (analytical) psychological perspective. Because Jungian psychology is adaptable with any number of religious traditions, an intrqduction to the role of dreams within Buddhism, Christianity and Islam will be a part of the course. Working with dreams will help students to learn to work with a methodology that has been developed by Jungian psychologists. To supplement work with dreams, an understanding of key Jungian concepts to be presented include the SELF as a God-image, archetypal energy, the personal and collective unconscious, the journey of individuation as a spiritual process. The goal of this course is to help students to be better prepared to work with the dreams of clients/congregants for whom they care at a depth level and particularly during times of heightened stress or end of life.

This course provides students opportunities to demonstrate the MPS outcomes, CASC and entry-to-practice CRPO competencies. Early in the semester, in consultation with professor and small group members, students will develop a learning covenant to identify specific learning goals, including a bibliography and process/timeline for achieving identified goals. The goals will be established in relation to their learning through the program based on their ability to demonstrate the MPS Outcomes, CRPO and/or CASC/ACSS Competencies. The course will culminate in 4 papers which will be merged into one large paper and submitted at the end of the course. In the assignments students will articulate and give evidence for their safe and effective use of self, the psycho-spiritual theory base for their practice and will demonstrate integration of their spiritual care/psycho-spiritual practice into a theological/spiritual/religious framework.

This course provides students opportunities to demonstrate the MPS outcomes, CASC and entry-to-practice CRPO competencies. Early in the semester, in consultation with professor and small group members, students will develop a learning covenant to identify specific learning goals, including a bibliography and process/timeline for achieving identified goals. The goals will be established in relation to their learning through the program based on their ability to demonstrate the MPS Outcomes, CRPO and/or CASC/ACSS Competencies. The course will culminate in 4 papers which will be merged into one large paper and submitted at the end of the course. In the assignments students will articulate and give evidence for their safe and effective use of self, the psycho-spiritual theory base for their practice and will demonstrate integration of their spiritual care/psycho-spiritual practice into a theological/spiritual/religious framework.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the foundational theories and practical applications of group therapy, with an emphasis on psychospiritual integration. Through a combination of theoretical study, practical group facilitation, and reflective writing, students will gain the skills necessary to effectively design, lead, and evaluate therapy groups.

Students will critically engage with the dynamics of group development, cultural and spiritual diversity, and the challenges posed by various group member behaviors. Assignments include active class participation, reflective and integration papers, as well as collaborative group design, didactics, and group facilitation, fostering both Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS) and psychospiritual growth.

By synthesizing theoretical concepts with hands-on practice, students will emerge prepared to design and lead meaningful, structured therapy groups that address diverse needs while integrating spiritual and theological dimensions into their practice.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the foundational theories and practical applications of group therapy, with an emphasis on psychospiritual integration. Through a combination of theoretical study, practical group facilitation, and reflective writing, students will gain the skills necessary to effectively design, lead, and evaluate therapy groups.

Students will critically engage with the dynamics of group development, cultural and spiritual diversity, and the challenges posed by various group member behaviors. Assignments include active class participation, reflective and integration papers, as well as collaborative group design, didactics, and group facilitation, fostering both Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS) and psychospiritual growth.

By synthesizing theoretical concepts with hands-on practice, students will emerge prepared to design and lead meaningful, structured therapy groups that address diverse needs while integrating spiritual and theological dimensions into their practice.

This course examines mindfulness modalities for spiritual care and spiritually-integrated psychotherapy. Mindfulness-based modalities have become one of the most widely disseminated clinical practice for a wide range of mental and physical concerns. Practitioners of all religious-spiritual traditions have begun to incorporate mindfulness modalities and interventions to support healing and wellness for care seekers in a way that engages spiritual dimensions of being. This course will examine the theoretical and empirical basis of mindfulness modalities and their applications in spiritually-integrated psychotherapy, spiritual care and chaplaincy. The course will first contextualize mindfulness practice and them focus on four central mindfulness-based modalities: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Components of each approach will be described, underlying model of clinical change specified, relevant applications illustrated, and empirical outcomes summarized.