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Canyon College
online Psychological Evaluation, Consultation and Testimony course at Canyon College forensic psychology department
COURSE SYLLABUS: DV710 – Pastoral Care and Counseling

Course Title: DV710 – Pastoral Care and Counseling
Department: Religious Studies
Instructor: Don E. Peavy, Sr. M.Div. E-Mail -- Vita
Prerequisites: None


PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

This course explores the role of a minister as counselor and care-giver. Specific attention is given to the multicultural environment in which ministry is carried out and the dynamics of the relationship between counselor and counselee, including its ethical dimensions as well as standards of care. Significantly, our task is carried out with due notice of the conflict between psychology and theology which undergird ministry and specifically pastoral care and counseling. Methods are explored here which are intended to ameliorate that tension.

By the end of our journey, students should be cognizant of the definitions of pastoral care and counseling as well as be equipped with tools with which to establish and maintain their own ministry of care and counseling. Students should also have an overview of ethical standards applicable to pastoral counselors as well as the need for self care and reflection. Finally, students should be aware of Internet resources and other professional organizations and community aids available to them.

DOCTRINAL STATMENT

Canyon College is a non-sectarian, non-denominational school committed to the study of God in all the richness and diversity of God's revelations to humanity and an exploration of what those revelations mean to the everyday lives of finite human beings. Canyon College does not advocate any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than the reality of God and does not require that its students and faculty subscribe to any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than a willingness to be challenged and a commitment to an investigation into truth and the pursuit of academic honesty and excellence.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

Students should strive to use inclusive language in their writings. By inclusive language is meant language that is not gender specific and which attempts to include as many people as possible. For instance, instead of writing that "God wills that every man obeys His will," inclusive language would require us to write, "God wills that everyone obey God's will."

COURSE UPDATES

Please do not send attachments. Instead copy/paste to an email your weekly assignments to the Professor at his/her Canyon email address. Include your name, student number, course name and number, and include the questions within the text of your answers.

If the book you order and receive has a different publishing date, notify the Professor because some adjustment may be needed to the page numbers of the assignments.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Texts  Online Bookstore RECOMMENDED: Exams. There will not be any exams for this course.

Papers. There will be a short paper of no less than 750 words no more than 1,250 words (not counting end-notes and bibliography), due at the end of each week's readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings. There will also be a midterm paper and a final paper. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address. Papers should conform to the form and style outlined in Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations," 6th ed. Students should use end notes instead of footnotes.

Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:

Papers 35%
Midterm Paper 30%
Final Paper 35%


Grading Scale.
90 - 100% A = Excellent
80 - 89% B = Above Average
70 - 79% C = Average
60 - 69% D = Below Average
59% or below F = Failing Grade


A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.
B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.
C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.
D = Quality and quantity of work is below average and barely acceptable.
F = Quality and quantity of work is unacceptable.


Week 1


Read chapters one through four of Clinebell. Please go to: http://definingmoment.tv
And scroll down to “Healing,” and click on “Watch” under “Natural Healing & Spirit World.”

Discussion Questions:
  1. How does Gayola describe healing among Native Americans?
  2. Does the healing described by Gayola comport with the definition of pastoral care or pastoral counseling? Please explain.
  3. How many, if any of the Six Dimensions of Wholeness does Gayola discuss? Does he add dimensions not mentioned?
  4. What does Clinebell mean by a holistic liberation growth model.
Week 2


Read chapters five through nine of Clinebell. Please go to: http://definingmoment.tv
And scroll down to “Spirituality,” and click on “Watch” under “Spirituality,” the interview between Moss and Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What do you understand Peavy to mean when he says that all human problems are ultimately spiritual problems?
  2. What does Clinebell mean by spiritual wholeness is the heart of pastoral care and counseling?
  3. What is the difference between bereavement care and bereavement counseling?
Week 3


Read chapters 10 through 13 of Clinebell. Please go to: http://definingmoment.tv
And scroll down to “Marriage and Family,” and click on “Watch” under “Intimacy, Sex, and Spirituality in Marriage.”

Discussion Questions:
  1. Are there significant differences between how a minister would counsel a couple in crisis as opposed to a non-ministerial care giver? Please explain.
  2. Name at least three types of conflicts or crisis which people coming to you could present which you would want to refer and explain how you would go about referring such persons.
  3. What do the Seidels see as the value of spirituality to marriage counseling?
  4. What resources do you have available to you presently to do marriage and family counseling?
Week 4


Do you have any questions, comments, complaints, concerns, confessions? If so, please email them to the instructor.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE MIDTERM PAPER BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK.

Robert Jenson is a 44 year-old banker who does not attend church. His wife, Jillian Jenson, is 40 years of age, and is a very active member of your church, along with the couple’s only child, 15 year-old Samantha.

You are in your office one day when Robert knocks on the door and enters. This is the first time Robert has been to your office and he comes without an appointment. Initially you do not recognize Robert but he introduces himself as “Jillian’s husband.” You invite him to sit down at the table next to your desk but he prefers to stand.

You attempt an exchange of pleasantries but Robert rebuffs them and says, “Reverend, we discovered today that Jillian has breast cancer. I know she’s gonna die and I am lost. I don’t know what to do. How can I raise a child alone? How can I live without Jillian? How can your God do this to us after all my wife has done for this church?”

Write a paper of 1200 to 2500 words in which you answer the following:
  1. What are you feeling during this visit?
  2. What are the various levels of crisis presented by Robert’s visit and speech?
  3. Who do you see as being in crisis?
  4. What will you say to Robert in response to his comments?
  5. Explain how you will go about caring for and counseling Robert and anyone else you see related to this crisis.
Week 5


Read chapters 14-17 of Clinebell. Please go to: http://definingmoment.tv
And scroll down to “Healing,” and click on “Watch” under “The Art of Self Healing.”

Discussion Questions:
  1. You are the pastor of an urban church. You want to train lay people to provide pastoral care and counseling so you can expand your outreach to members of your local community. Prepare a syllabus for such training. How many sessions will you teach the class and what resources will you employ?
Week 6


Read chapters one through three of Collins and Appendix A and Appendix B.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Rewrite Appendix A to reflect your own theological perspective.
  2. Rewrite Appendix B as you would use it in your own ministry.
  3. What should a minister do if s/he feels that s/he is becoming emotionally involved with a person who is under his/her care?
  4. A parishioner comes to you and confesses that he is sexually involved with his 14 year-old daughter. Are you required to report this misconduct to any legal authorities? Would you? Why or why not?
Week 7


Read chapters one through three of Ramsay.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Find the websites for the following and give the url and a brief description for each: American Association of Pastoral Counselors Association for Clinical Pastoral Education American Association of Christian Counselors
  2. What does Ramsay mean by “intercultural paradigm”?
  3. Miller-McLemore speaks of an emphasis on “human web” rather than the traditional notion of “human documents.” What does she mean by this concept?
  4. Neuger writes that a pastoral care giver needs to conduct a “thorough analysis of how cultural power and differences function in the lives” of those presenting for care and counseling. What does she mean by this concept?
Week 8


Read chapters four through seven of Ramsay.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Please give the url and a brief description for the following:
    African Association of Pastoral Studies and Counseling
    Society for Intercultural Pastoral Care and Counseling
    Society for Pastoral Theology
    Journal of Pastoral Theology
    American Association of Pastoral Counselors
  2. What are ways, if any, in which theology might pose challenges for pastoral care and counseling to gays and lesbians? Marshall writes that one of the shifts which has occurred in pastoral care and counseling is that “theology moves from the center of pastoral care and counseling to a shared partnership with psychology.” What does Marshall mean by this statement and how do you react to it?
  3. How have developments in the legal arena impacted pastoral care and counseling?
Week 9


PLEASE COMPLETE THE FINAL PAPER BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK.