Doctor of Ministry Degree > Course of Study: Pastoral Care and Counseling

Course of Study: Pastoral Care and Counseling

The D.Min. in Pastoral Care and Counseling (PC&C) is designed to offer a flexible advanced program of training that leads to doctoral level competence in the practice of pastoral care or counseling. This may include meeting requirements for: 1) clinical membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, 2) a state counseling license (LMFT, LPC or equivalent, 3) Board Certified Professional Chaplain (Association of Professional Chaplains), 3) AAPC or ACPE supervisory credentials, or 4) specific competence in parish pastoral care.

After completing Seminar I, II, and III, students in this D.Min. track will enroll in specialized Advanced Professional Courses appropriate to their goals in the program. After Seminar I, each student will construct an educational plan to meet program goals. This will be completed in consultation with the director of the D.Min. in PC&C. It is each student’s responsibility to identify any certification or license desired as outcome for the D.Min. and integrate requirements for these into their educational plan.

Supervised Practice
Graduates of the D.Min. in Pastoral Care and Counseling are required to complete a clinical internship appropriate to their outcome goals. Specialists in Pastoral Counseling will complete a minimum of 375 hours of counseling with 125 hours of supervision. This can best be completed in an AAPC approved training center, but may be completed in a variety of ways with the approval of the Director of the D.Min. in PC&C. Chaplaincy or parish pastoral care specialists will complete at least 375 hours of supervised experience with 125 hours of supervision, which will be shaped by the requirements of their desired certification.

Prerequisites
Admission to the D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling requires a minimum of one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education in addition to other general admission requirements.

Areas of Study
In addition to the core theological work of Seminar I, II, and III, D.Min. in PC&C students should include Advanced Professional Courses from the following areas in their individual plans. Certification or license requirements may act as a guide for selecting courses.

I. Core Clinical Theory and Practice
Examples:

PC304-3 Family Therapy: Theory and Practice
PC303-3 Couple’s Therapy: Theory and Practice
PC 402-3 Group Dynamics in Marriage and Family Therapy and Congregations
PC Guided advanced study in clinical theory

II. Diagnosis, Assessment, and Psychopathology
Examples:

PT322-3 Pastoral Diagnosis and Psychopathology
PC223-3 Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency

III. Human Growth and Development
Examples:

PC408-3 Human Growth and Transformation
PC316-3 Care of Children: Clinical and Pastoral Dimension
PC307-3 Sexuality and Pastoral Practice

IV. Ethics and Professional Studies
Example:

PC305-3 Professional Issues and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy

V. Research and Prospectus
Required:

DM 646-9 Pastoral Counseling Research and D.Min. Prospectus

Project in Ministry and Project Report
Candidates for the D.Min. in Pastoral Care and Counseling will complete a project in an area related to their clinical specialty (pastoral counseling, chaplaincy, parish pastoral care).