Certificate in (Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate) Patient Counseling

To provide clinical education for pastoral care professionals as well as other health care providers in the spiritual care of patients and families within an interdisciplinary context Student learning outcomes At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to: Identify the significance of one’s social identity, formative and transformative life experiences, and beliefs about spiritual care in their provision of spiritual care [ACPE Category A]. Demonstrate an awareness of implicit and systemic biases, including cultural and valuebelief-based prejudice, and their impact on spiritual care [ACPE Category B]. Provide spiritual care with empathy, intercultural and interreligious respect [ACPE Category B & C] Provide spiritual care while maintaining and recognizing the importance of healthy relational boundaries [ACPE Category C]. Demonstrate an understanding of group dynamics as it relates to spiritual care encounters [ACPE Category C]. Professionally represent oneself when developing spiritual care relationships [ACPE Category D & E]. Appropriately incorporate spiritual care resources to address spiritual wellbeing [ACPE Category D]. Recognize the difference between spiritual assessments, spiritual histories and spiritual screenings [ACPE Category D]. Understand the role of documentation in the provision of spiritual care [ACPE Category D]. Embody professional ethical behavior as related to one’s context and present oneself with professional integrity and honesty in spiritual care [ACPE Category E]. Utilize consultation in spiritual care and maximize their learning with the clinical method of learning [ACPE Category E]. Understand the role of spiritual care as part of the larger care team [ACPE Category E].

In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, applicants must have successfully completed undergraduate training and hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution reflecting ability to perform at the graduate level. Students must apply and be accepted to VCU’s Graduate School to participate in our Clinical Pastoral Education program. This program also requires the submission of a resume, the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education application materials and a personal interview with faculty. Application fact sheets and narrative instructions can be found on the ACPE website.