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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 S/NS.

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 S/NS.

Prerequisite: IPA6135.

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.

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.