Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality

MPS Admission Requirements : | Application Package
Application Deadline | Credentialling Bodies

The Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality (MPS) program develops professional counsellors who are well grounded in the integration of psychological and spiritual knowledge as a holistic foundation for effective therapeutic practice. This program is open to people from any faith tradition.

The MPS program is a unique degree program developed in response to a widely felt community need for formal graduate counselling training that integrates psychology and spirituality. This academic program blends theoretical knowledge and clinical skills with particular emphasis on the individual student’s ability to integrate spirituality and psychology with their personal growth and to implement this integration into effective clinical practice. The MPS program has been designed for those who see counselling as ministry and who want to include a spiritual element in their academic work.

The primary educational goals for this degree are: the capacity for critical and constructive theological reflection regarding the content and processes of the areas of specialized ministry; skill in the design, implementation and assessment of ministry in these specialized areas; an understanding of the various disciplines that undergird the area of specialized ministry; and growth in personal and spiritual maturity.

The MPS program offers a blend of academic course work with supervised clinical experience in community settings. Academic instruction is primarily offered in intensive week-long instructional periods along with collegia which give students the opportunity to develop a strong cohort group and build relationships that allow them to engage with, and learn from, the experiences and backgrounds of their classmates.

Candidates may also choose to apply to one of two specializations; the Art Therapy Specialization, or the Pastoral Counselling Specialization.

St Stephen’s has planned the MPS program so that it will assist students in acquiring professional counselling credentials; however the program is neither designed to, nor will it meet requirements to pursue registration as a psychologist in Alberta. The program has been designed so that with additional supervised clinical training, the student can pursue the credentialing process with some professional registering associations. However, the onus will remain on the student to consult with the registering body to meet their requirements, both during and subsequent to their academic training. Upon completion of the educational components of the art therapy specialization, the student may be eligible to apply these components towards the process of registration as an art therapist. This may require additional supervised clinical hours and again is the student’s responsibility to consult directly with their preferred registering association. The MPS (Art Therapy Specialization) program is an approved art therapy training program with The Canadian Art Therapy Association, and the MPS (Pastoral Counselling Specialization) is an approved training program with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS)

MPS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree in psychology or substantially equivalent study (examples may include pastoral theology, the humanities and human sciences, and nursing) from a recognized university or college (Grade Average minimum 72%-see Admissions Policy)
Academic background in counselling and/or some experience in a helping role are desirable
A readiness to integrate spiritually informed training into professional practice
Upon successful admission to the Program, students will be required to produce a Security Clearance Check

MPS (Art Therapy Specialization) Additional Admission Requirement:

5. Background in studio art and/or some experience with the artistic creative process are desirable

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications can be submitted and processed throughout the year, with an annual application deadline of February 1.

Admission Interview Day: February 24, 2012
Orientation Day for new students: Apri 28, 2012

APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, AND ORIENTATION
Students are required to complete the application process which includes an interview. Upon invitation to the MPS program, students attend Orientation Day (normally in late April). The first core program intensive, Intro Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care, takes place Monday through Friday immediately following Orientation Day.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
MPS
(51 credits)
Equivalent to two years of full-time study. Work should be completed within six years.

REQUIRED COURSES (36 credits)
SS071V Academic Writing (0cr graduate online course taken in first year)
PPPSYC581 Intro to Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care (3cr)
PPSYC585 Counselling Skills (3cr)
PPSYC583 Professional Ethics for Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care (3cr)
SSC571V Research Methods (online) (3cr)
PPSYC584 Theories Couns/Psychotherapy(online) (3cr)
PPSYC5869 Counselling Skills-Syst Interventions (3cr)
SSC582 Pastoral Theology and Counselling (3cr)
SSC589 Theological Reflection in Professional Practice (3cr)
PPSYC587 Life Span Psychology (3cr)
PPSYC5812 Abnormal Psychology (3cr)
PPSYC5870 MAPPC *Counselling Practicum (6cr)
*Counselling Practica I and II in total, consist of 300 hours of direct client contact, and 60 hours of supervision. The counselling practica should be arranged so as to meet the student's desired Professional Association requirements.

ELECTIVES (6 credits)
Two 3-credit electives in areas of student interest or as required by the student's desired Professional Association. Elective courses to be selected in consultation with the MPS Program Chair.

THESIS (9 credits)
The Thesis is a formally written 100-150 page document based upon the student’s research of a stated question. The Thesis integrates an introduction, a thorough literature review, explication of methodology, data presentation and analysis, and a summary of findings, conclusions, and synthesis. The Thesis Proposal Collegium (0-credit) is a required component of the thesis process.

THERAPY (0 credit, co-requisite)
40 hours of personal therapy with a certified counsellor is considered a minimum during training in order to provide an opportunity for students to address personal issues as they relate to their professional development as a counsellor. A letter from the therapist is required, stating dates the therapy took place.

Options equivalent to credit in the MPS Program:

One Unit Pastoral Counselling Education (PCE)	6 credits [equivalent to one practicum and one elective]
One Unit Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)	6 credits [equivalent to one elective and SSC582 Pastoral Theology/Counselling]
Certificates from Taking Flight International, Edmonton *a maximum of 6 credits from Taking Flight International can be credited towards the MAPPC-AT program art therapy studio requirements.	Trauma Recovery Certificate: 6 credits - 2 electives or 2 art therapy studio courses - in addition, for students enrolled in the Counselling Practicum PPSYC5870/5878 course, the mentorship involving client contact may meet a portion of practicum requirements (up to 80 counselling hours). Students must submit the usual practicum supervisor profile/approval form to Degree Program Chair prior to commencement of mentorship. Grief Support Certificate: 3 credits - 1 elective or 1 art therapy studio course

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
MPS (Art Therapy Specialization)
(66 Program Credits; 9 Pre/Co-Req Credits)
Equivalent to two and a half years of full-time study. Work should be completed within seven years.

COURSES (36 credits)
SS071V Academic Writing (0cr graduate online course taken in first year)
PPPSYC581 Intro to Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care (3cr)
PPSYC585 Counselling Skills (3cr)
PPSYC583 Professional Ethics for Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care (3cr)
SSC571V Research Methods (online) (3cr)
PPSYC584 Theories Couns/Psychotherapy(online) (3cr)
PPSYC5869 Counselling Skills-Systems Interventions (3cr)
SSC582 Pastoral Theology and Counselling (3cr)
SSC589 Theological Reflection in Professional Practice (3cr)
PPSYC587 Life Span Psychology (3cr)
PPSYC5812 Abnormal Psychology (3cr)
PPSYC5878*Counselling Practicum (Art Therapy) (6cr)
*Practicum course will consist of 350 hours of direct client contact with supervision by a Registered Art Therapist, over two practicum placements. Practica should be arranged so as to meet the student's desired Professional Association requirements.

ART THERAPY COURSES (21 credits)
PPSYC5841 Introduction to Art Therapy (3cr)
PPSYC5830 Theories/Art Therapy Training Grp I (3cr)
PPSYC5828 Theories/Art Therapy Training Grp II (3cr)
PPSYC5845 Child and Adolescent Art Therapy (3cr)
PPSYC5879 Issues of Professional Practice/Interventions in Art Therapy I (3cr)
PPSYC5880 Issues of Professional Practice/Interventions in Art Therapy II (3cr)
PPSYC5881 Art Therapy History/Theoretical Foundations (3cr)

THESIS (9 credits)
The Thesis is a formally written 100-150 page document based upon the student’s research of a stated question. The Thesis integrates an introduction, a thorough literature review, explication of methodology, data presentation and analysis, and a summary of findings, conclusions, and synthesis. Research must be within the field of art therapy. The Thesis Proposal Collegium (0-credit) is a required component of the thesis process.

THERAPY (0 credit, co-requisite)
40 hours of personal therapy with a certified counsellor is considered a minimum during training in order to provide an opportunity for students to address personal issues as they relate to their professional development as a counselor and art therapist. A letter from the therapist is required, stating dates the therapy took place.

PRE/CO-REQUISITE ART COURSES (9 credits)
Courses in studio art/art therapy studio allow the learner to gain experience in working with art materials and processes. These courses may be taken at St Stephen’s College, or at other institutions with Art Therapy Associate Chair’s approval

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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
MPS (Pastoral Counselling Specialization) (69 credits)
Equivalent to three years of full-time study. Work should be completed within seven years.

REQUIRED COURSES (36 credits)
SS071V Academic Writing (0cr graduate online course taken in first year)
PPPSYC581 Intro to Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care (3cr)
PPSYC585 Counselling Skills (3cr)
PPSYC583 Professional Ethics for Pastoral Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care (3cr)
SSC571V Research Methods (online) (3cr)
PPSYC584 Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy (online) (3cr)
PPSYC5869 Counselling Skills-Syst Interventions (3cr)
SSC582 Pastoral Theology and Counselling (3cr)
SSC589 Theological Reflection/Professional Pract (3cr)
PPSYC587 Life Span Psychology (3cr)
PPSYC5812 Abnormal Psychology (3cr)
PPSYC5870 MPS *Counselling Practicum (Pastoral Counselling) (6cr)
*Counselling Practica I and II in total, consist of 300 hours of direct client contact, and 60 hours of supervision. The counselling practica should be arranged so as to meet the student's desired Professional Association requirements.

PASTORAL COUNSELLING COURSES/PROJECT
(24 credits)
SSC511 Introduction to Theology (3cr)
SSC513 Introduction to Ethics (3cr)
SSC547 Special Topics in Diversity: Faith/Culture (3cr)
INTD577 Spiritual Assessment/Promotion Health (3cr)
SSC5884 Applied Theological Practice (project) (3cr)
Three Electives (9cr):

Human Development (eg. Jungian Psych, Loss/Grief)
Sacred Text (eg. Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Scriptures, or course based on other sacred text)
Sacred History (eg. Church History, Women/Religion)

THESIS (9 credits)
The Thesis is a formally written 100-150 page document based upon the student’s research of a stated question. The Thesis integrates an introduction, a thorough literature review, explication of methodology, data presentation and analysis, and a summary of findings, conclusions, and synthesis. Research must be within the field of pastoral counselling. The Thesis Proposal Collegium (0-credit) is a required component of the thesis process.

THERAPY (0 credit, co-requisite)
40 hours of personal therapy with a certified counsellor is considered a minimum during training in order to provide an opportunity for students to address personal issues as they relate to their professional development as a counselor. A letter from the therapist is required, stating dates the therapy took place.

CREDENTIALLING BODIES

Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)
http://associates.cpca-rpc.ca/stephens.html.

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
http://www.ccacc.ca/en/forstudents/

British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
http://bc-counsellors.org/apply-for-membership

The Canadian Association for Spiritual Care / Association canadienne de soins Spirituels
http://www.cappe.org/Manual/index.html#CH1

Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA)
MPS Art Therapy Specialization students only
www.catainfo.ca