Spiritual Care: Ritual, Meaning and Reflective Practice (DS8021P)

Postgraduate, 12.0 points

Content

This unit focuses on meaning making in diverse spiritual care settings through the use of the spiritual and liturgical resources. With reference to a range of spiritual practices, you will reflect on spiritual and ritual resources that sustain and nourish throughout the journey of life of individuals and their communities. You will have opportunity to consider the place and practice of rituals and spiritual practices in the delivery of holistic and integrated spiritual care. With awareness of the need for self-regulation, you will be introduced to self-care resources and develop skills in reflective practice. You will consider a range of strategies to enable integration of reflective practice into professional practice.

Unit code: DS8021P

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 12.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Identify a range of spiritual and religious beliefs and practices

2.

Evaluate and interpret non-textual components in ritual
3.

Assess liturgical and spiritual resources with sensitivity to diverse ecumenical, cultural and sub-cultural considerations
4.

Explain and justify practices of self-care that aids the self and supports other practitioners to self-regulate
5.

Develop strategies to integrate reflective practice into professional practice

Unit sequence

This unit responds to the objectives outlined in the Spiritual Care Australia Capabilities Framework (2023) for Level 2 Independent Practitioner and is a companion to the unit, Spiritual Care: Independent Practitioner

This unit is specifically designed for chaplains and spiritual care workers with practitioner experience but it can also include extensive pastoral ministry placements that involve community outreach.  

Pedagogy

Seminars, workshops with time for reflection, guided reading, case studies

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bein, Andrew. The Zen of Helping: Spiritual Principles for Mindful and Open-Hearted Practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2008.
  • Cacciatore, Joanne. Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief. Wisdom Publications, 2017.
  • Fook, Jan and Fiona Gardner. Practicing Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2007.
  • Glasson, Barbara and Clive Marsh. So What’s the Story? A Resource Book for Christian Reflection and Practice. London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2019.
  • Kelly, Ewan. Personhood and Presence: Self as a Resource for Spiritual and Pastoral Care. New York: T&T Clark, 2011.
  • Jeffers, Steven L. Finding a Sacred Oasis in Grief: A Resource Manual for Pastoral Care Givers. Oxford NY: Radcliffe, 2007.
  • Ramshaw, Elaine. Ritual and Pastoral Care. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987.
  • Ter Kuile, Casper. The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices. London: William Collins, 2020.
  • Thompson, Sue and Neil Thompson. The Critically Reflective Practitioner, 3rd ed, London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Concept map/mind map 1000 25.0
Oral Presentation - Ritual

Ritual (8 mins) + written reflection on the ritual (500 words)

 1200 40.0
Journal - Journal reflecting on readings and applications

Reflections including self-care, self-regulation and reflective practice

 1200 35.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 6 Feb, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-02-06 10:46:43 +1100