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Army Chaplain Corps
U.S. Army
what is BPT?

PST consists of four phases, each of which includes approximately 100 training hours spread over a 12-week period. The program is conducted in groups of 12 participants on various installations by certified Family Life Chaplain Trainers.

Each weekly, eight-hour module will include a combination of self-study and group interaction as follows.

  1. Preparation – Individual reading assignments to be completed before each group session. Participants will receive these in a digital format on CD and they also are available on this Web site. (3 hours)
  2. Case Presentation – Instructors will present a case with which he or a member of his unit has had personal contact. These may be related to marital issues, pastoral counseling, or pastoral care and can be presented in written, audio, or video format, or as verbatims. (1 hour)
  3. Discussion of Readings – Groups will discuss their assigned readings in the context of the case presentation, identifying skills or techniques which apply to that situation. (1.5 hours)
  4. Observation – Participants will watch and discuss a video of an actual counseling session to gain a first-hand understanding of proper techniques including listening skills, joining with clients, use of questions, and ability to intervene. (1.5 hours)
  5. Interpersonal Relationship Group Work – Group discussions will be conducted, based on the College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy Covenant, to encourage self-awareness and support as well as peer and supervisor feedback. (1 hour)

 

Program Content

Weekly Schedule Activity Individual Schedule
0800-0930 Devotional/Check In/Didactic 1 Hour Weekly Individual Supervision with Supervisor
0930-1030 Pastoral Presentation I 2 Hours Reading
1030-1130 Pastoral Presentation II 2 Hours Presentation Writing
1130-1200 Group Process/Closing Total:  Each Week Involves Nine Hours of Group and Individual Work

 

Program of Instruction by Phases

Phase Primary Focus
Phase I: Basic Pastoral Care and Counseling
Phase II: Theological Integration and Person of the Pastor
Phase III: Advanced Pastoral Care and Counseling
Phase IV: Training and Supervising Pastoral Care and Counselors

 

Phase Breakdown in Detail

PHASE I: Basic Pastoral Care and Counseling
Week Topics Readings Objective
1 Initial Interview/ Intake Process notes/informed consent, confidentiality Initial Interview/how to interview for change/Orienting toward solution: how to interview for change To familiarize students with forms and confidentiality
2 Solution-Focused Therapy Solution Focused Slides/Solution Focused Worksheets Teach Solution Focus Theory
3 Relationship Building in Pastoral Counseling The counseling relationship with Richards Parsons/Can You talk with me/The counselees experience of counseling by James  E. Dittes

To familiarize students with the skill of joining
4 Empathy The Dance of Empathy  L. Lisa McCann/Basic Empathy by Egan To introduce joining, listening, attending, and empathic responses 
5 Listening How to Create A Listening Environment Develop Active Listening and Tracking Skills
6 Pastoral Conversation How to construct a conversation by Donald Capps How to listen for metaphors and exceptions
7 Genogram Genogram/Clinic How to conduct a genogram and used it clinically
8 Self Care and Burnout Mental Health Treatment of Religion Professionals by McAllister  Counter-transference and Burnout in Pastoral Counseling, Robert J. Wicks Help students become self aware
9 Pastoral Diagnosis Assessment in Pastoral Care, Edgar Draper/Assessment info/Theological Assessment by Howard Stone Help student develop the skills of doing a religious assessment
10 Ethics Foundation of Ethics, AAPC Ethics, AAMFT Ethics Students to become familiar with Ethics of Pastoral Counseling
11 Pastoral Counseling Methods Models of pastoral counseling and theology by Augsburg/what works in pastoral counseling/pastoral theology Familiarize students with models of Pastoral Care and Counseling
12 Coping Religious Methods of Coping by Kenneth I. Pargament How people use religion to cope in a healthy way

 

PHASE II: Theological Integration and Person of the Pastor
Week Topics Readings Objective
1      
2 The Sacred Scripture in Counseling Bibles Role in Pastoral Counseling, Donald Capps/ Use of Parables in Marriage Counseling, Donald Capps/Word of God by Stone How to use scripture in counseling therapeutically
3 The use of Prayer in Counseling Prayer in Pastoral Counseling by William  Hulme

How to use Prayer Therapeutically
4 Group Process  Content vs Process The Therapist Working in the Here and Now by Irvin D. Yalom To help the student understand group process
5 Theological Reflection Discipline and Habit of Theological Reflection Warren, H.A. Help students think theologically when counseling
6 History of CPE Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling  E.E. Thornton/Directions in Pastoral Counseling by Clyde J. Steckel Familiarize students with the history of pastoral care and counseling
7 Grief and Loss Hospice, Pastoral Counseling and Care in Response to Death and Dying, by Constance M. Mucha/The Denial of Death, Ernest Becker P 47-92/When a Family Deals with Loss by Fromma Walsh Identify the patterns and examining the treatment of grief.
8 Boundaries Sexual Exploitation and Other Boundary Violations by Pamela Cooper-White/How to manage Boundaries by Donald Capps What it means to have boundaries in counseling
9 Development Issues Midlife Transitions in Men and Women by Margaret Gorman/ Developmental Cycles Identifying developmental issues in counseling
10 Guilt Guilt by William J. Sneck Identify the pattern of guilt and how to treat it pastorally
11 Shame Shame by Robert Karen/Theology of Grace by David Augsburger Identify the patterns of shame and how to treat it pastorally
12 Anger Towards a Construction of a theology of anger and handling anger creatively by Andrew D. Lester from the book the Angry Christian Helping one assess one use of anger



PHASE III: Basic Pastoral Care and Counseling
Week Topics Readings Objective
1 Bowenian Marriage and Family Therapy/ systemic Theory Generation to Generation (Understanding Family Process) Edwin H. Friedman/How to Interpret Stories/ Systemic Family Crisis Intervention by Harris Understand Bowen’s theory, understanding the theological integration and using Bowen Theory to treat trauma and couples
2 Emotional Focused Marriage and Family Therapy/ Attachment Theory Facing the Dragon Together by Susan Johnson/ Adult attachment and  Trauma/ Attachments by Dr. Tim Clinton Using EFT and Attachment theory to treat Trauma and couples
3 Narrative Marriage and Family Therapy Narrative Questions/Hope and Stories by Andrew D. Lester

Use of stories, deconstruction and reconstruction of the human story.

4 Psycho-Dynamic Pastoral Counseling How does Change Occur within the Psychoanalytic Encounter, James L. Fosshage/Object Relations couple therapy with Trauma Survivors Exploring Object Relations Theory to treat couples and trauma
5 Multi-Cultural Pastoral Counseling The Challenges of Intercultural Marriage; Strategies for Pastoral Care, Farsh Wiggins Frame/Minorities by Edward P. Wimberly Helping intercultural couples
6 Affairs/Infidelity Affair Slides/Patterns of Infidelity by Emily brown/after the internet affair /Infidelity by Michelle Weiner Davis Helping the student help couples that are experiencing infidelity in their relationship
7 Addictions Pastoral Counseling with those with Sexual Addictions by Stephen J. Rosetti/ Sexual Exploitation and Other Boundary in Pastoral Ministries Understanding addiction and using pastoral counseling to intervene. 
8 Strategic counseling Strategic pastoral counseling by David Benner/reframing by Capps Using strategic therapy to help couples and develop the skill of reframing
9 PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/David W. Foy/attachment and trauma by susan Johnson/Trauma and its impact on families by Matsakis/The partners experience; learning to cope with Chaos Understanding PTSD and it’s effect on couples.
10 Depression Depression by Howard Stone Treating Depression from a Pastoral Care and Counseling Perspective
11 Self Esteem and identity issues Pastoral Care and counseling and Issues of Self Esteem by Carroll Saussy Understand the effects Self Esteem has on the healing process
12 Multi Cultural Issues Cross-Cultural Pastoral Psychotherapy Learning to be sensitive to a multi cultural environment


PHASE IV: Training and Supervising Pastoral Care and Counselors
Week Topics Readings Objective
1 Supervising Pastoral Counselors Supervising Pastoral Counseling by David Steere Learning the art of Supervising Pastoral Counseling
2

Supervision
Basic Ingredients in the Supervisory Process
Developmental Aspects of Supervision

Major Theoretical Resources for Supervision		 The Integrated Family Therapy Supervisor, by Robert E. Lee   Pages 1-13  and P. 39-66 Understanding different styles of Marriage and Family Supervision
3

Modalities and Formats of Supervision

Supervision and Culture,  Practice of Supervision		 The Integrated Family Therapy Supervisor, by Robert E. Lee  P. 67-110

Understanding the different  models and forms of MFT supervision
4 Theological Integration Putting Religion into Practice by Kenneth I. Pargament Looking at how religion can be used to bring healing
5

Characteristics and Implication of Supervision

Model and Methods of Supervision		 Transforming the Rough Places, The Ministry of Supervision Pages 75-125 Understand the objectives of pastoral care and counseling supervision
6 Supervision and Theological Integration Transforming the Rough Places, The Ministry of Supervision Pages 126-175 Integrating theology and supervision
7 Pastoral Supervision Tillich A theological Interpretation of Pastoral Supervision Integrating theology and supervision
8 Pastoral Supervision Conversation Transforming the Rough Places P151-175 Developing a supervisory relationship
9 Supervision process and paradigms Coping with conflict chapter 1 and 2 by Mueller Understand how anxiety effects the counselor, therapist and supervisor.
10 Supervisory Process in Action Coping with conflict chapter 3 Understand the parallel process of supervision
11 The mature supervisory relationship Coping with conflict chapter 7 Understand the healthy supervisory relationship
12 Post Modern Supervision Practicing as a post Modern Supervisor Applying Post Modern Theory to the supervision process

Final Evaluations

Graduation