Fall 2024
Trauma and Spiritual Care
Instructor: Sheila McMahon, Ph.D. | Thursdays | 9:30 am-11:00 am | Online & Synchronous
This course discusses the impact of trauma on human functioning at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, communal, structural, and historical levels. It introduces the concept of trauma-informed or trauma-responsive pastoral care. Professional chaplains deal with the impact of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout and co-create opportunities for harm prevention, creative resistance, and resilience in the face of trauma. The course aims to address 1) intrapersonal impacts of trauma, such as loss of hope, disenfranchised grief, and the inability to feel safe in one’s own body; 2) interpersonal impacts of trauma relevant to building pastoral relationships and how traumatic experiences impact individuals’ ability to trust and form healthy, supportive relationships; 3) the effects of traumatic events on diverse communities in the aftermath of mass tragedies such as school shootings or terrorist attacks; 4) structural forms of trauma, such as the treatment of the undocumented and their separation from their families; 5) impact of historical trauma and the intergenerational transmission of trauma, such as the systematic annihilation of Native American communities; coping and safety among second-generation survivors of the Holocaust, and the legacy of slavery in the U.S.
Chaplaincy Settings and Models
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, Ph.D. | Tuesdays | 9:30 am–11:00 am| Online & Synchronous
This course introduces spiritual care in professional chaplaincy settings such as healthcare, universities, corrections, the military, fire and police departments, and corporate. It describes the roles and responsibilities of chaplains in multidisciplinary contexts.
The Interface of Spiritual Care and Psychedelics
Instructors: Celina De Leon, MDiv & Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, Ph.D. | Monday | 9:30 am–11:00 am| Online & Synchronous
The emergence of psychedelic research in treating addiction, depression, and existential crises at the end of life in the United States creates an opportunity to examine the role of spiritual care in supporting meaning-making before, during, and after psychedelic experiences. This course will offer an introductory overview of psychedelic chaplaincy, emerging research, indigenous origins, and the spiritual significance of psychedelic experiences. Through case studies, students will deepen their learning and explore essential considerations such as safety, ethics, access, and the responsibility the emerging field should have toward indigenous reciprocity.
Spiritual Care for Marginalized Communities - Online Synchronous
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Wednesday | 9:30 - 11:00
The terms “marginalized” and “vulnerable” are often used interchangeably to describe populations that have limited access to economic and social support, such as health care, employment, education, housing and basic human rights, while also being vulnerable to abuse or exploitation. The course will provide a forum for examining different marginalized groups through the lens of spiritual care strategies that can support them. We will explore vulnerability and marginalization from two perspectives… how chaplains, counselors and clinicians can best provide spiritual care, and an examination of our personal embedded biases against these populations. We will also explore language and semantics related to concepts like “privileged vs. underprivileged,” and “victimized.”, social, and theological competencies for working with marginalized communities in interreligious chaplaincy
Spring 2025
Death Theologies and Rituals in Chaplaincy - Online Synchronous
Instructors: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Rebecca Esterson| Tuesdays, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
This seminar course explores interreligious and inter-cultural approaches to end-of-life as death is a multi-faceted experience with various implications: physical, theological, ethical, legal, communal, familial, and personal. Students will examine caring for diverse communities, examine their own end-of-life beliefs and traditions, and articulate their understanding of how their views prepare them to care for diverse communities. Furthermore, students will study how death is understood and what rituals are practiced when dying, and during funerals, burial, and grief. Students are expected to join a weekly synchronous class for 90 minutes and engage in synchronous activities (reading, online posting, two reflection papers, and a final research paper).
Meaning Making in Chaplaincy (PR 8385) - Online Synchronous
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | ACPE Educator Marissa Danney| Wedsdays, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
This course introduces Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and explores three interrelated foci of meaning-making in chaplaincy; operational or functional theologies, spiritual assessment, and reflective believing. 1)Individuals often modify established beliefs to create an assumptive world or operational theology/spirituality that they use to order experience and make sense of life, particularly when sickness comes or death is near. 2) Assessing the spiritual needs and resources of a patient or someone seeking care is a critical prelude to planning and implementing a strategic intervention for the sake of healing. 3) Reflective believing is a more inclusive way of inviting reflection on the experience of the caregiving and practice of lived religion. The course will also examine historic and contemporary images of spiritual care to understand the meaning of chaplaincy. Requirements: a synchronous meeting, asynchronous activities (reading assignments, online posting, reflection papers), and a final paper.
Soulcare in Chaplaincy (PR-8240) - In-person and Online Synchronous
Instructors: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh Safiyyah alSabri (Newhall Scholar) | Mondays | 9:30 am-11:00 am
Each expression of chaplaincy is shaped by its context. This course aims to provide a framework that will assist students in developing an approach to spiritual care or soulcare integrated with their religious practice that can later be adapted to each particular chaplaincy setting. Course work includes weekly readings, asynchronous presentations and discussion, a 90-minute weekly synchronous class, short reflection papers, and a final paper articulating the student's emerging approach to soulcare.
Information about a forth class discussing chaplaincy and counseling or wellness will be added soon!
Past Courses
Fall 2023
Trauma and Spiritual Care (PR-8235)
Instructor: Sheila McMahon, Ph.D. | Thursdays | 9:30 am-11:00 am | Online & Hybrid
This course discusses the impact of trauma on human functioning at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, communal, structural, and historical levels. It introduces the concept of trauma-informed or trauma-responsive pastoral care. Professional chaplains deal with the impact of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout and co-create opportunities for harm prevention, creative resistance, and resilience in the face of trauma. The course aims to address 1) intrapersonal impacts of trauma, such as loss of hope, disenfranchised grief, and the inability to feel safe in one’s own body; 2) interpersonal impacts of trauma relevant to building pastoral relationships and how traumatic experiences impact individuals’ ability to trust and form healthy, supportive relationships; 3) the effects of traumatic events on diverse communities in the aftermath of mass tragedies such as school shootings or terrorist attacks; 4) structural forms of trauma, such as the treatment of the undocumented and their separation from their families; 5) impact of historical trauma and the intergenerational transmission of trauma, such as the systematic annihilation of Native American communities; coping and safety among second-generation survivors of the Holocaust, and the legacy of slavery in the U.S.
Chaplaincy Settings and Models (PR-8305)
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, Ph.D. | Wednesdays | 9:30 am–11:00 am| Online & Hybrid
This course introduces spiritual care in professional chaplaincy settings such as healthcare, universities, corrections, the military, fire and police departments, and corporate. It describes the roles and responsibilities of chaplains in multidisciplinary contexts.
The Interface of Spiritual Care and Psychedelics (PR-8220)
Instructors: Celina De Leon, MDiv & Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, Ph.D. | Tuesday | 9:30 am–11:00 am| Online & Hybrid
The emergence of psychedelic research in treating addiction, depression, and existential crises at the end of life in the United States creates an opportunity to examine the role of spiritual care in supporting meaning-making before, during, and after psychedelic experiences. This course will offer an introductory overview of psychedelic chaplaincy, emerging research, indigenous origins, and the spiritual significance of psychedelic experiences. Through case studies, students will deepen their learning and explore essential considerations such as safety, ethics, access, and the responsibility the emerging field should have toward indigenous reciprocity.
All ICP classes allow online and/or hybrid participation: synchronous and asynchronous.
Spring 2023 (Intersession 2023)
Intersession 2023
Spiritual Care for Marginalized Communities (PR-2100) - Remote
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Remote | Weekdays | TBD| January 2-13
The course explores cultural, social, and theological competencies for working with marginalized communities in interreligious chaplaincy
Spring 2023
Death Theologies and Rituals in Chaplaincy (PR 8375) - Remote
Instructors: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh and Rebecca Esterson| Tuesdays, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
This course explores interreligious and intercultural approaches to end-of-life among diverse communities. Death is a multi-faceted experience with various implications: physical, theological, ethical, legal, communal, familial, and personal. Students will study how death is understood and what rituals are practiced when dying and during funerals, burial, and grief. Students join a 90-minute synchronous class and engage in asynchronous activities (reading, online posting, two reflection papers, and a final research paper). Students will examine their end-of-life beliefs and traditions and articulate their understanding of how their views prepare them to care for diverse communities.
Spiritual Counseling in Chaplaincy (PR 8380) - Remote
Instructor: Zuhal Ağılkaya-Sahin| Friday, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Spiritual counseling is not psychological but reflective and establishes spirituality as a resource. The course will cover central theories, main principles, and practice of spiritual counseling in different contexts and focuses on how to provide professional help in interreligious contexts. In addition, the course will address the intersection between spiritual counseling and psychology. It will explore how they are similar and different and the importance of integrating religious/spiritual elements into psychological counseling. The course requirements include a synchronous meeting once a week from 12:30-2:00 pm and asynchronous activities (reading assignments, online posting, reflection papers, and a final research paper).
Meaning Making in Chaplaincy (PR 8385) - Remote
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh and Guest Speakers| Wednesdays, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
This course aims to explore several dimensions of meaning-making in chaplaincy. There are three interrelated foci: 1) understanding how we fashion an assumptive world or operational theology/spirituality that we then use to order experience and make sense of life as it comes to us; 2) assessing the spiritual needs and resources of a patient or someone seeking care, and 3) theological or spiritual reflection on the practice of soul-care in chaplaincy. The three segments of the course will be integrated around the human need to find or make meaning. Modules will be taught by Herbert Anderson, Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz, and a guest expert in spiritual assessment. The course requirements include a synchronous meeting on Wednesdays at 12:30-2:00 pm and asynchronous activities (reading assignments, online posting, reflection papers, and a final research paper).
Fall 2022
Trauma and Spiritual Care (PR-2350) - Hybrid
Instructor: Sheila McMahon | Thursdays | 9:30 am-11:00 am
The course will introduce the concept of trauma-informed or trauma-responsive pastoral care. It provides students with opportunities to practice these approaches, the impact of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout on pastoral caregivers, and ways that caregivers and care receivers can co-create opportunities for harm prevention, creative resistance, and resilience in the face of trauma.
Soulcare and Chaplaincy (PR-2400) - Hybrid
Instructors: Herbert Anderson and Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Tuesdays | 9:30 am-11:00 am
This course aims to provide a framework that will assist each student in developing an approach to spiritual care or soulcare integrated with his or her own religious practice that can later be adapted to each particular chaplaincy setting
Chaplaincy Settings and Models (PR-3050) - Hybrid
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Mondays | 9:30 am–11:00 am
This course provides an introduction to spiritual care in the different professional chaplaincy settings such as healthcare, universities, corrections, the military, fire and police departments, and corporate, and describes the roles and responsibilities of chaplains in multidisciplinary contexts.
ICP Field Education (PR-3000) - Off-Site
ICP students currently enrolled in a CPE program must register for this course to get credit and satisfy the requirement of completing a one-unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. Upon the completion of the unit, send an email to the ICP director and attach a copy of the CPE supervisor's final evaluation and a copy of the ACPE certificate in order to get credit for the CPE unit.
Intersession 2022
Spiritual Care for Marginalized Communities (PR-2100)
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Remote | Weekdays | 9:30am-11am| January 3-14
The course explores cultural, social, and theological competencies for working with marginalized communities in interreligious chaplaincy
Spring 2022
Religious and Spiritual Diversity in Counseling (PT-2050) - Hybrid
Instructor: Iman Farajallah | Mondays, 9:40am–12:30pm
This 3-unit course broadly examines diverse religious and spiritual experiences as they impact people we serve, us, the counseling relationship, and how they relate to counseling theories and research. Students will explore their own beliefs and attitudes towards spiritual and religious identity: personal and cultural. They will analyze the balance between increasing awareness of various religious and spiritual groups' unique experiences and identifying strengths and biases related to working with different religious and spiritual groups. Through group dialogue, readings, interactions, and interviews, we will broaden and deepen students' awareness and appreciation of personal differences and commonalities related to counseling.
Theological Reflections in Chaplaincy (PR-2300) - Hybrid
Instructor: Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz| Wednesdays, 9:40am–12:30pm
Theological reflections explore how the divine presence and additional dimensions can enrich and inform the chaplain's pastoral interactions. Theological reflection is a way of evaluating encounters, identifying religious texts, prayers, images, and stories that a visit evokes, both for the chaplain and the people they serve. The class will offer a combination of asynchronous and synchronous lectures, student presentations, working in pairs and small groups, and reading others' reflections with gentleness and curiosity.
Theologies of Death Across Traditions (PR-2100) - Hybrid
Instructors: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh and Thomas Cattoi| Tuesdays, 2:10pm–5pm
This course is co-taught by Kamal Abu-Shamsieh and Thomas Cattoi. The purpose of this lecture/seminar course is to explore the specific approaches to the mystery of death taken by different religious traditions throughout history, from the three Abrahamic religions to the dharma religions of the East. While grounded in a theological and speculative dimension, the course will assess the ongoing relevance and pastoral applications of the insights of these different traditions. The approach taken will be interreligious as well as interdisciplinary, drawing on the contribution of psychology and pastoral theology.
Fall 2021
Chaplaincy Settings and Models (SCPR-3000) - Hybrid
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Mondays, (9:30am–11:00pm - Synchronous)
This course is required for all chaplaincy students (MA & Certificate) and provides an introduction to spiritual care in the different professional chaplaincy settings such as healthcare, universities, corrections, the military, fire and police departments, and corporate, and describes the roles and responsibilities of chaplains in multidisciplinary contexts. The class will offer a combination of asynchronous and synchronous lectures, reflection and research paper or a project. Open to MA, M.Div., D.Min., and Ph.D. students.
Interreligious Rituals for Chaplaincy: Faith, Ethics, and Politics (PR-2250) - Hybrid
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Tuesdays, (9:30am–11:00pm - Synchronous)
Chaplains are responsible for providing a spiritual presence at significant life milestones, from birth to death. Individuals in different chaplaincy settings may need support in daily prayer, during religious holiday observances, and various rituals and sacred practices across a vast spectrum of traditions. This class explores the dynamics of chaplains' engagement in life-time rituals, including faith-specific rites, which may trigger a dilemma for some chaplains when asked to perform these roles and duties. We will examine ethical and theological questions related to day-to-day interreligious chaplaincy work. How would a non-Christian chaplain respond to infant baptism or provide the sacrament of the sick in end-of-life care? How to address innate biases against rituals from other traditions different than your own? How to create innovative and inclusive practices and navigate faith boundaries while facilitating diverse communities' spiritual needs? The class will offer a combination of asynchronous and synchronous lectures, reflection and research papers, or projects. Open to MA, M.Div., D.Min., and Ph.D. students.
Spirituality in Bereavement: Interfaith Perspectives - SCPT-3002 - Hybrid
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Thursdays, (9:30am–11:00pm - Synchronous)
When facing a profound a loss of any kind, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, pet loss or loss of health, we cannot separate psychology from spirituality. Regardless of one’s belief system, spiritual outlook or concept of God, loss and grief almost always triggers existential questions, because searching for meaning is an intrinsic part of the grieving process. Anyone who works to support the bereaved inevitably encounters this struggle, but often feels uncertain of how to examine it. Indeed, a Christian might wonder, “Why would a loving god let this happen?” or “Is God punishing me?” A person who is Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) might ask, “What am I supposed to learn from this experience?” or “How is this experience challenging me to deepen my spiritual practice?” An atheist might question whether painful events are truly random, or if there is some deeper purpose to our losses. It can be unclear how to engage productively with these questions while respecting the uniqueness of each person’s spiritual journey. Furthermore, in the mental health field, spirituality is often regarded as a taboo subject and not adequately addressed in counseling sessions or support groups. This course is designed for masters-level pastoral care providers working with loss, trauma and grief. Course activities will include class discussion, lecture, interactive exercises, reflection papers, sacred ceremony. Course available for 1.5-3 units.
Spring 2021
Seminar in Pediatric Chaplaincy (PT-2000)
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Tuesdays, 9:40am–12:30pm
The seminar is required for all chaplaincy students and provides an introduction to issues that define and impact spiritual care among children: infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age, and adolescents. Students will learn how diversity of cultures and religions impacts what rituals chaplains offer at birth and end-of-life in a healthcare setting. The components of cultural and spiritual assessments with patients and families, and how cultural group patterns and family structures influence communication, decision-making, sharing of medical information, and perceptions of palliative care. In addition, the pediatric needs and communications when dealing with death, grief, and bereavement.
Religious and Spiritual Diversity in Counseling (PT-2050)
Instructor: Iman Farajallah | Mondays, 9:40am–12:30pm
This seminar broadly examines diverse religious and spiritual experiences as they impact people we serve, us, the counseling relationship, and how they relate to counseling theories and research. Students will explore their own beliefs and attitudes towards spiritual and religious identity: personal and cultural. Students will analyze the balance between increasing awareness of various religious and spiritual groups' unique experiences and identifying strengths and biases related to working with different religious and spiritual groups. Through group dialogue, readings, interactions, and interviews, we will broaden and deepen students' awareness and appreciation of personal differences and commonalities related to counseling.
Intersession 2021
Spiritual Care for Marginalized Communities: Cultural, Social and Theological Competencies
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Remote | Time (TBA)
The terms “marginalized” and “vulnerable” are often used interchangeably to describe populations that have limited access to health care, support services, employment, education, housing, societal acceptance, and basic human rights. Both terms can refer to groups that are historically socially oppressed, but there are so many cross-referenced areas of vulnerability and marginalization, and so many possible meanings that the terms have almost become meaningless.
This course will begin by defining these terms and exploring our relationships with these groups from two perspectives… how chaplains, counselors and clinicians can best provide spiritual care, and an examination of our personal embedded biases against these populations. Click here to view the syllabus.
Fall 2020
SCPT-3000 Chaplaincy Settings and Models
Instructor: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Wednesdays, 9:40am–12:30pm
This course is required for all chaplaincy students (MA & Certificate) and provides an introduction to spiritual care in the different settings of professional chaplaincy, and describes the roles and responsibilities of chaplains in multidisciplinary contexts such as healthcare, universities, corrections, the military, fire and police departments, and corporate. Students will get the opportunoty to virtually meet professional chaplains who will share details about career chaplaincy, duties and responsibilities, and challenges. [Faculty Consent required]
SCPT-3001 Interreligious Approaches to Spiritual Care
Instructors: Herbert Anderson and Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | Wednesdays, 12:40pm–3:30pm
This course will prepare students to respond to human need and sorrow with compassionate empathy informed by their own religious perspectives. Because care is always contextual, students will develop competence in listening and responding to people from differing religious worldviews and a variety of human crisis situations. Through assigned readings, class lectures and discussion, and role-play exercises, the course will also promote understanding of the history of spiritual care in each religious tradition, foster growth in self-awareness and strengthen their capacity for critical self-reflection on practices of spiritual care. [Faculty Consent required]
SCPT-3002 Spirituality in Bereavement: Interfaith Perspectives
Instructor: Terri Daniel | Tuesdays, 9:40am–12:30pm
When facing a profound a loss of any kind, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, pet loss or loss of health, we cannot separate psychology from spirituality. Regardless of one’s belief system, spiritual outlook or concept of God, loss and grief almost always triggers existential questions, because searching for meaning is an intrinsic part of the grieving process. Anyone who works to support the bereaved inevitably encounters this struggle, but often feels uncertain of how to examine it. Indeed, a Christian might wonder, “Why would a loving god let this happen?” or “Is God punishing me?” A person who is Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) might ask, “What am I supposed to learn from this experience?” or “How is this experience challenging me to deepen my spiritual practice?” An atheist might question whether painful events are truly random, or if there is some deeper purpose to our losses. It can be unclear how to engage productively with these questions while respecting the uniqueness of each person’s spiritual journey. Furthermore, in the mental health field, spirituality is often regarded as a taboo subject and not adequately addressed in counseling sessions or support groups. This course is designed for masters-level pastoral care providers working with loss, trauma and grief. Course activities will include class discussion, lecture, interactive exercises, reflection papers, sacred ceremony. Course available for 1.5-3 units.