M.A. in Counselling and Spirituality

This course helps the students to develop skills for the critical evaluation of empirical research in the human sciences and the application of these skills in graduate research projects and theses. Qualitative and quantitative methods of gathering and validating scientific evidence in observation, case, evaluation, correlational and experimental studies. The formation of problems, structured questions, causal and non-causal hypotheses; operational definitions; dependent, extraneous and randomized variables; the selection of samples. Research ethics will be examined.

Space for reflection, deepening and integration of various perspectives, with particular attention to the spiritual dimension of the practice of psychotherapy, and that of the psychotherapist. Examination of various spiritual paradigms so as to identify certain points of convergence that are useful for understanding the issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion, an approach to reflection on practice is proposed, to support and promote the professional development of the psychotherapist and the safe and effective use of self. Presentation of psychospiritual models of intervention for the purpose of providing clinical and practical approaches.

This course presents a history of the family systems theories with individuals, couples, and families with a major focus on advanced family systems theories and interventions. Theories covered include Structural, Strategic, Bowen, Narrative, Solution Focused and more. Attention is paid to assessment of functional and dysfunctional family systems. The student/practitioner will learn interviewing, assessment and restructuring techniques, and how to explore family rules, systems, values and boundaries.

Introduction to spirituality as an essential dimension of human experience across the lifespan. Key concepts and theories of spiritual development and their relevance to clinical evaluation and treatment from spiritual and psychological perspectives. The different expressions of spirituality, the relationship between stages of moral development and images of the divine and transcendent, and the dialogue between spirituality and psychology. The importance of psychology in discerning between a healthy spirituality, which is enriching for the person and for their integral development, and a spirituality that must be called unhealthy, which eliminates human freedom, autonomy and responsibility.

Students are oriented to relevant professional organizations; the need for liability insurance, codes of ethics, professional standards and certification is examined. The course reviews major contemporary issues that surround the practice of pastoral counselling (e.g., confidentiality and its limits, record keeping, informed consent, the legal concerns impacting pastoral counselling) and research. The student is introduced to the processes of ethical reasoning and ethical decision-making. The need for continued training and supervised practice leading to certification will be discussed. Considerable attention is given to the role of informed judgment and peer consultation in resolving ethical dilemmas.

This course introduces the student to professional issues and ethical concerns which shape and flow from the caring context in health care services. The student is oriented to the process of ethical and professional standards and their implementation. Using case histories and ethical dilemmas the student is guided in dealing with both general and specific professional concerns such as the use of ethical frames of reference in decision making, respect for liberty in the formation of conscience, the need for and the limits of confidentiality, the use of charting research questions in health care, and the impact of teamwork in patient care. The students will also be invited to grapple with specific moral issues such as abortion, euthanasia, life prolongation, and the use of scarce resources.

Concepts such as normality and abnormality, and the inter-relationship of perceptual, cognitive and affective dimensions are discussed. Motivational, social, behavioural and inter-personal components of human functioning and reviewed. This course presents the mental disorders, distinguishing the neurotic and psychotic disorders. The neuroses, transient reactions to stress, psychological factors in physical illnesses, personality disorders and affective disorders are treated in depth. Each class of disorders is viewed from the point of view of its etiology, diagnostic indicators, assessment, research and treatment. An explanation of the factors that foster an individual’s invulnerability to stress, trauma, and genetic predispositions is presented. The interplay of stressors, interpersonal and intrapersonal resources, life history and community is emphasized in the etiology and course of the disorders and normal functioning. Disordered functioning is seen as a person’s attempt to come to terms with the demands of living.

This course provides a brief overview of the history of counselling theory and its orientations and trends. It attends to the nature of theory building and its interconnection to practice and research. It presents, critically in depth, representative theories from the current major orientations (e.g., experiential, cognitive, psychodynamic, behavioural) with a focus on the integration of understanding, assessment and treatment in the counselling process. In the presentation of theories, attention is given to the integration of theory, research and practice. Each theory is discussed with reference to its practical application, effectiveness and limitations. The manner in which one or more of these theories has been applied to pastoral counselling practice and in the development of pastoral counselling models, and in the development of a person’s spiritual and religious life is covered.

Theoretical study of individual counselling and individual psychotherapy; application of various psychotherapeutic situations, role plays, viewing of audiovisual recordings of experts in the field; effective use of self in counselling and psychotherapy; individual counselling and psychotherapy sessions with clients, including clinical supervision with psychologists or registered psychotherapists, at the Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre of Saint Paul University. Topics include active listening, paraphrasing, reflecting content and emotions, asking open and closed questions, summary, the intake interview, conceptualization of cases and writing reports and distinguishing a suicidal crisis and its appropriate responses, assessment of the client’s needs, personal and religious development, current capabilities, and circumstances of living, evaluation of the client’s emotional patterns, cognitive style, interpersonal patterns, and strategies for living along with ethical principles guiding professional practice. Graded P/F.

Challenges relating to boundary issues, client resources, psycho-spiritual assessment, relaxation and guided imagery, anxiety, depression, loss and grief, client resistance, self-disclosure, trauma, abuse, anger, diverse and multicultural populations, ending the therapeutic relationship. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6135.

Deepening of clinical techniques and skills gained through IPA6135 and IPA6136. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6136.

Theoretical study of individual counselling and individual psychotherapy; application of various psychotherapeutic situations, role plays, viewing of audiovisual recordings of experts in the field; effective use of self in counselling and psychotherapy; sessions of individual counselling and psychotherapy with clients, including clinical supervision with psychologists or registered psychotherapists, at the Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre of Saint Paul University.
Topics to include professional ethics and record keeping, psychological and spiritual coping strategies, psychodynamic of clients, theories of attachment, sexual abuse, transactional analysis, drugs and addictions, conditions of post-traumatic stress. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6137.

Mindfulness, search for meaning and transcendence, confidence, anger, shame and guilt, individuation, death and mourning, crisis intervention, diverse and multicultural populations. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6138.

Theoretical study of couple and family therapy, therapy application to various situations and within role plays, and video of various expert intervention modalities, effective use of self in counselling and psychotherapy, counselling and psychotherapy sessions with clients (couples and/or families), including clinical supervision with psychologists or registered psychotherapists, at the Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre of Saint Paul University. Topics include advanced systems theory (EFT (therapy focusing on emotions); psychodynamic (imago; object relations, solution-centred); cognitive behaviour; attachment theory). Graded P/F.

Advanced Systemic Therapeutic Interventions: commitment and evaluation, use of self, the integration of spirituality, diverse and multicultural populations. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6140.

Deepening of clinical techniques and skills gained through IPA6140 and IPA6141. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6141.

Deepening of clinical techniques and skills gained through IPA6140, IPA6141 and IPA6142. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: IPA6142.

This course provides students with a critical theological understanding and means of developing the practice of pastoral ministry in the health care services. It presents an anthropological study of the human experience of health, illness, healing, suffering and dying, and a theological reflection on these in the light of the different Christian traditions. It presents the resources for care: principles of human development, principles of human helping; reflections on pastoral care practice; paradigms for care; skills for interpersonal caring; reflections on rituals used in caring; and insights into personalized religion and spirituality.

Group and individual meetings allow students to write a work plan and begin the research process.
The course is evaluated “Satisfactory” or “Not satisfactory”.

Students are responsible for choosing a theme and obtaining approval from the research seminar’s director. The chosen theme must correspond to the students’ research interest, the thesis director’s areas of expertise or another professor who will collaboratively play the advisory role overseeing the development of the research project.
Prerequisite: IPA6155 RESEARCH SEMINAR PREPARATION.

This beginner practicum provides a learning situation whereby students develop personal and professional qualifications for ministry as a chaplain / spiritual care clinician. Students are systematically initiated to the functions and concerns of pastoral care services. Students are trained in the basic skills as they bear on the spiritual, emotional and religious needs of the patients, family and staff. This practicum consists of group activities, placement, written exercises and personal development seminar.

This practicum continues the experience gained in #1. Students learn more of the functions and concerns of spiritual care services; to the organization of a spiritual care department; to the practices and procedures for the implementation of spiritual care. The following methods encompass this experiential learning: supervised practice of ministry, lectures, seminars and didactics, personal development seminar, verbatim/ virtual visit reporting, individual supervision, and reflection reports.

The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the history and nature of theories of couple counselling. This course will introduce the central theories and concepts guiding couple therapy, including attachment, family systems, Emotionally Focused, experiential, and humanistic and the recent research related to couple therapy. There will be a particular focus on the skills, assessment and practice associated with Emotionally Focused therapy. Couple relationships both on the conscious and unconscious levels of functioning are examined and conceptualized.

In this supervised field practicum, the student offers counselling services at a community centre or an agency located outside campus. Graded P/F.
Prerequisite: Obtaining the grade “P” (Pass) to all evaluation items in the course IPA6135.
Corequisite : IPA6137 or IPA6138 or IPA6140

Students learn advanced skills in ministry to the sick, their families, as well as other specific settings in keeping with the students learning goals. They perfect and consolidate basic attitudes. Students are responsible for more complex ministry situations such as palliative care and mental health. They are taught to foster team work in a caring community as part of a spiritual care team.