Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling: A Narrative Approach

3 credits

In this foundational course, we develop an understanding of critical dimensions of competent and compassionate pastoral care and counseling today. Drawing substantially on a narrative approach to care, we explore pastoral care and counseling from contemporary pastoral-theological, social-scientific, and cultural perspectives. Particular topics addressed are family systems theory; implicit bias and racism; domestic violence; suicide; power and boundaries; resilience and self-care; and skills for pastoral care.