Jewish Rabbinical Counseling

Jewish Rabbinical Counseling (PSY-308)
Location:
Various: distance learning format

Length:
Varies (self-study; self-paced)

Dates:
August 2018 - Present.

Subject Area:
Psychology

Number of Credits:
3

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: apply best practices and strategies of pastoral counseling; identify various mental health care professionals, their expertise and how each could help a counselee; comfort the ill and bereaved in an effective and sensitive manner; counsel children and adults who have undergone recent trauma; identify potential addictions and abuse and pursue the proper steps to recovery; describe a variety of mental illnesses and the proper handling of patients suffering from them; help prepare people for marriage; and make counseling decisions based on an awareness of confidentiality laws.

Instruction:
This course examines rabbinical counseling practices and descriptions of typical mental health issues that may be encountered and the various professionals and services available for referral, including premarital counseling, dealing with couples in distress and spousal abuse and caring for the sick, the dying, and the bereaved. Special focus is given to dealing with suicide and survivors of crises as well as children in matters of crisis and death. Although many of the sources speak to the role of the communal rabbi or chaplain, many of the skills are equally applicable to other spiritual counselors, teachers and mentors.

Credit Recommendation:
In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Judaic Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or Rabbinics (8/18).