Course Catalogue 2025-2026

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.

This clinical practicum provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skill necessary for providing competent spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The course explores both theoretical and applied aspects of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE). It is located at the intersection of the theology of caring, grief and loss, and social sciences. The course emphasizes multidimensional assessments and teaches interventions that are spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, and/or educational. Professional identity and professional ethics as well as the place of spiritual care and counselling in Canada are also examined. The course highlights significant aspects of the theologies of psychospiritual care and therapy.

This clinical practicum provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skill necessary for providing competent spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The course explores both theoretical and applied aspects of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE). It is located at the intersection of the theology of caring, grief and loss, and social sciences. The course emphasizes multidimensional assessments and teaches interventions that are spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, and/or educational. Professional identity and professional ethics as well as the place of spiritual care and counselling in Canada are also examined. The course highlights significant aspects of the theologies of psychospiritual care and therapy.

This clinical practicum provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skill necessary for providing competent spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The course explores both theoretical and applied aspects of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE). It is located at the intersection of the theology of caring, grief and loss, and social sciences. The course emphasizes multidimensional assessments and teaches interventions that are spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, and/or educational. Professional identity and professional ethics as well as the place of spiritual care and counselling in Canada are also examined. The course highlights significant aspects of the theologies of psychospiritual care and therapy.

Postmodern-Constructivism continues to exert a powerful beneficial effect in the world of psychotherapy assessment and treatment by challenging traditional, modernist models of care. This intensive survey course is inspired by postmodern philosophical perspectives (J. Derrida, M. Foucault), Personal Construct Psychology (G. Kelly), and Social Constructivism (K. Gergen). We will examine and compare the major postmodern perspectives from the standpoint of integrative psychological and spiritual care, with introductory exposure to Narrative Therapy (M. White, D. Epston); Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (S. de Shazer, I. Kim Berg); Collaborative Language Systems Therapy (H. Goolishian, H. Anderson); Meaning-Based Therapies (V. Frankl, T. Wong); Strengths-Based Therapies (M. Seligman, Y. J. Wong); Constructivist Ethics (J. Guterman, J. Raskin); and Integrative Models (B. Zinnbauer, K. Pargament).

Postmodern-Constructivism continues to exert a powerful beneficial effect in the world of psychotherapy assessment and treatment by challenging traditional, modernist models of care. This intensive survey course is inspired by postmodern philosophical perspectives (J. Derrida, M. Foucault), Personal Construct Psychology (G. Kelly), and Social Constructivism (K. Gergen). We will examine and compare the major postmodern perspectives from the standpoint of integrative psychological and spiritual care, with introductory exposure to Narrative Therapy (M. White, D. Epston); Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (S. de Shazer, I. Kim Berg); Collaborative Language Systems Therapy (H. Goolishian, H. Anderson); Meaning-Based Therapies (V. Frankl, T. Wong); Strengths-Based Therapies (M. Seligman, Y. J. Wong); Constructivist Ethics (J. Guterman, J. Raskin); and Integrative Models (B. Zinnbauer, K. Pargament).

This pass/fail course builds on the Boundaries & Bridges course and is designed to expand students’ mastery of the practices essential to effective and ethical pastoral care. It requires attendance at weekly Zoom classes on Thursdays for 8 weeks, and a commitment to spend approximately 10 hours per week outside of class completing readings and assignments.
The primary focus of this course is to provide students with opportunities to learn and demonstrate their ability to:
• understand and embody the principles of bringing themselves to ministry with skill, authenticity and integrity (i.e., competent use of self)
• articulate a pastoral image of themselves that is lived out in their pastoral functioning
• prepare to
o skillfully engage in a range of pastoral skills essential to providing pastoral care to diverse populations
o competently and accurately assess the strengths and needs of those they are serving pastorally
o integrate their conceptual in-class learning with the practice of pastoral care in the field education placement
The overarching goal of this course is for each student to gain the requisite skills involved in becoming a person who values and has the ability to offer sensitive and effective pastoral care, is committed to the ongoing task of developing their capacity for ethical thinking, and consistently behaves with authenticity and integrity.
The in-class component of this course involves a combination of theoretical/conceptual learning as well as role-played and experiential exercises designed to assist in the acquisition of skill. The class format is comprised of discussions of readings, short lectures with an emphasis on dialogue and discussion, experiential learning events, and the practice and demonstration of component skills.

This course examines the theory, research and practice of evidence-based spiritual care and spiritually integrated psychotherapy in the field of aging. The course looks at a variety of theories on aging and ways of helping the elderly. There is a focus on various evidence-based modalities for working with the elderly, including spiritually integrated psychotherapy, narrative, person-centred, and solution-focused therapies. The course engages theories of human growth and invites students to examine their own awareness and safe and effective use of self in working with the elderly. Case studies from the literature will be integrated into the class discussions to explore topics such as stereotypes about aging, changes in lifestyles in later life, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual issues, dementia and mental health issues, and death and dying. The course emphasizes the strengths, wisdom and resilience of the elderly.

The course utilizes an adult education approach in which students are expected to bring their experiences either from their own lives and/or from their clinical placements and their thoughts on the written material. There will be discussion, role plays, observation and feedback on role plays (using learning from the course) and self-awareness exercises in the course. The hope is that the course will facilitate transformation.

This course examines the theory, research and practice of evidence-based spiritual care and spiritually integrated psychotherapy in the field of aging. The course looks at a variety of theories on aging and ways of helping the elderly. There is a focus on various evidence-based modalities for working with the elderly, including spiritually integrated psychotherapy, narrative, person-centred, and solution-focused therapies. The course engages theories of human growth and invites students to examine their own awareness and safe and effective use of self in working with the elderly. Case studies from the literature will be integrated into the class discussions to explore topics such as stereotypes about aging, changes in lifestyles in later life, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual issues, dementia and mental health issues, and death and dying. The course emphasizes the strengths, wisdom and resilience of the elderly. The course utilizes an adult education approach in which students are expected to bring their experiences either from their own lives and/or from their clinical placements and their thoughts on the written material. There will be discussion, role plays, observation and feedback on role plays (using learning from the course) and self-awareness exercises in the course. The hope is that the course will facilitate transformation.

This clinical practicum provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skill necessary for providing competent spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The course explores both theoretical and applied aspects of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE). It is located at the intersection of the theology of caring, grief and loss, and social sciences. The course emphasizes multidimensional assessments and teaches interventions that are spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, and/or educational. Professional identity and professional ethics as well as the place of spiritual care and counselling in Canada are also examined. The course highlights significant aspects of the theologies of psycho-spiritual care and therapy.

This clinical practicum provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skill necessary for providing competent spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The course explores both theoretical and applied aspects of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE). It is located at the intersection of the theology of caring, grief and loss, and social sciences. The course emphasizes multidimensional assessments and teaches interventions that are spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, and/or educational. Professional identity and professional ethics as well as the place of spiritual care and counselling in Canada are also examined. The course highlights significant aspects of the theologies of psycho-spiritual care and therapy.

This clinical practicum provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skill necessary for providing competent spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The course explores both theoretical and applied aspects of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE). It is located at the intersection of the theology of caring, grief and loss, and social sciences. The course emphasizes multidimensional assessments and teaches interventions that are spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, and/or educational. Professional identity and professional ethics as well as the place of spiritual care and counselling in Canada are also examined. The course highlights significant aspects of the theologies of psycho-spiritual care and therapy.