Category Archives: Training

Courses and Schedules for Bukal Life Care

The following describes a snapshot of our courses and schedules for 2026. With changes to the calendar being made by the Philippine Department of Education, even our very flexible schedule as shown may still change in the coming months.

Bukal Life Care and Counseling Center

Courses

Foundations of Christian Counseling: 1-2 days in duration.

The course is done by request for a group. It covers basics such as counseling ethics, empathy, active listening, proper (and improper) use of Scripture in counseilng, boardaries and referral, and so forth. Actual topics may vary depending on the specific needs of the group, and the time available.

Clinical Pastoral Orientation 100 hours (CPO-100). 3-4 weeks intentive

(or may be done as a semestral course).

The course utilizes the learning modules or regular Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): practical ministry, case presentation, didactics, individual supervision, and group work relations. It has been set up to equate to a 3 credit hour course in a seminary (3 hours per week for 15 weeks). Alternatively, it can be done in an intensive format in 3-4 weeks. It provides a “taste” of CPE for those considering to take CPE or for those who are unable to take it.

Clinical Pastoral Orientation 200 hours (CPO-200). 5-6 weeks Intensive

This course expands on CPO-100 and equates to a ½ unit of CPE. In fact, some programs call this “Half Unit CPE.”

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). 10-12 weeks Intensive or 16-20 weeks Extended

This course follows the standards of CPSP-Philippines and its parent organization CPSP (College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy). One full unit is 400 hours, consisting of 90 hours of group time consisting of Didactics, Case Presentation, and Group Work Relations, 10 hours of Individual Supervision, and 300 hours of practical ministry and personal reflection.

For certification as a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain or Board Certified Pastoral Counselor, one has to take at least 4 full units (1600 total hours). Units 1 and 2 are often described as “basic units” and Units 3 and 4 are often described as “advanced units.” While each trainee has their own learning goals and works with the supervisor to tailor training to those goals, generally, the following is where the focus is meant to be:

Unit 1: Basics of Clinical Pastoral Care

Unit 2: Pastoral/Ministerial Identity and Assessment

Unit 3: Pastoral Theology and Theological Reflection

Unit 4: Introduction to Pastoral Supervision

Supervisor-In-Training (SIT) Program

This is available to those who have passed their certification for Board Certified Clinical Chaplain. Acertified Diplomate in Pastoral Supervision will oversee training. The SIT will oversee a CPE group (one group at a time). Normally, SITs will be limited to overseeing trainees for CPE Units 1-3. Normally, Unit 4 CPE will be overseen directly by a diplomate. To complete fully the SIT program to be eligible for the certification board for Diplomate in Pasotral Supervision, the SIT must oversee a minimum of five (5) units of CPE, while being supervised by a Diplomate.

Schedule (for 2026)

Foundations of Christian Counseling and CPO-100 are done on request by groups and so it is not on the schedule. The SIT program is done concurrently with CPE and CPO-200.

Jan-Apr CPE (Units 1, 2, 3, and 4)** May have Intensive and/or Extended groups

Apr-Jun CPE (Units 1, 2, 3, and 4)** Summer Intensive

Jun-Jul CPO-200**

Aug-Dec CPE (Units 1, 2, 3, and 4)** May have Intensive and/or Extended groups

** Actual schedule depends somewhat on partnering schools and availability of trainees.

Tuition Costs

CPE 22,000 Philippine Pesos per unit

CPO-200 13,000 Philipine Pesos

CPO-100 7,000 Philippine Pesos (or may vary if done as a semestral course)

Foundations Cost is negotiated based on location, duration, and size of group.

SIT SITs receive a stipend from supervising CPE groups and so there is no direction tuition per se.

For More information, contact us at bukallife@gmail.com

www.bukallifecare.org

2025

Visit from Dr. Doug Dickens

We were blessed by a visit from Dr. Doug this week. In addition to individual opportunities for consultation and socialization, he joined us for several activities. Three major ones were:

—–Training and case consultation with our SITs and CPE Trainings.

—–Visiting the ministry team at Sacred Heart Medical Center

——Seminar at Calvary Baptist Church, the church Pastor (and SIT) Jun Vestidas

—–One of the lead speakers at the CPSP-Philippines Plenary. We will save picture of this for a separate post. We are thankful for his taking time to fly over to help us in our ministry work.

    Missionary Member Care Training Held as Webinar

    October 14 and 15, we held a webinar with Kalma— a volunteer group that provides Welcoming ministry for One Sending Body missionaries. One Sending Body is a denominational missionary agency that sends out Filipino missionaries into Asia. We had a great time speaking of drawing out missionary’s personal stories, and help them withe stress defusing. Interest was expressed for at least one more training with focus on practice.

    July 2024 and Beyond– Upcoming Events

    Our two Summer Intensive CPE groups will be finishing soon— one near the end of this month and the other early in August.

    Here are a lot of things happening. Here are a few…

    July 31. Certification Board for two of our trainees.

    August 3. Training seminar in family systems . Central Philippines Nazarene College, Cebu City.

    August 15. Counseling Project with The Salvation Army, NCR.

    August 16. Start of Fall Extended CPE.

    September 5 -6. Basic Pastoral Counseling Seminar. Quirino Province.

    September 10.  Start of Fall Intensive CPE.

    November. Possible time of CPSP Plenary.

    January 2025. Start of CPE groups in Baguio and Palawan.

    We are happy to see the growth of ministry of our ministry partner– Australian-Filipino Community Services. Looking forward to expanded work with them… especially in training.

    Basic Counseling Skills Seminar

    We were invited to speak at a gathering of young adults and youth leaders of Philippine Bethel Churches on November 23, 2019. Approximately 36 joined. We addressed active listening, basic therapeutic counseling, and some specific topics— anxiety, suicide, depression, and abuse. Despite the heaviness of these topics, we had a great time and appreciate the interest and hospitality of our hosts.

    Seminary Courses Coming Up

    Bukal Life Care is working with Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary on some Pastoral Care courses starting mid-October
    1. Intro to Pastoral Care and Counseling. This will be taught by Dr. Robert Munson on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30am to 12 noon. This is a master’s level course and available only to PBTS students.
    2. Interpersonal Relationships. This will be taught by Chaplain Celia Munson on Wednesdays and Fridays 1-2:30pm. This is a Bachelor’s level course and available only to PBTS students.
    3. Clinical Pastoral Orientation (CPO). This will be taught by Dr. Robert Munson on Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30-4pm. One DOES NOT have to be a seminary student to participate.. If you are interested, you can message us.
    4. Starting in mid to late march, chaplains Vo and Lyn will lead Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Again, one DOEZS NOT have to be a seminary student to participate.
     
    Additionally, Dr. Robert Munson is anticipating leading a master’s level module on Pastoral Care and Counseling at Maranatha Theological Seminary, also in Baguio. This will most likely happen in January.

    August Updates

    We are in a bit of a lull right now. There may be a CPE group starting August 17, but that is uncertain (depending on whether some can really join who have expressed interest).

    Of more certainty are the following:

    1.  September 14.  Basic Christian Counseling seminar will be led by Chaplain Vo Canoy in San Jacinto, Pangasinan.
    2. September 16.  We plan to begin a CPE Intensive program. It will be based at Pines Doctors Hospital in Baguio.
    3. October. We expect to start CPO as part of the 2nd semester at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. More info to follow.
    4. Late October. Hoping hold IPR (Inter-Personal Relations) training led by Dr. Cal Sodoy. Again, more info to follow.

    Church Conflict Resolution Training

    We held Church Confict Resolution Training

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    Celia, Bob, Amm, and Chara of Bukal Life Care with Fhey and Ysrael who lead ABCM

    at ABCM, a church ministry here in Baguio with several daughter ministries throughout Northern Luzon.

     

    Bob and Celia Munson led the training, assisted by two trainees of Bukal Life Care (Amm and Chara). It was held on Good Friday (April 19, 2019) with approximately 50 to 60 attending. We do different activities depending on the size, needs, and duration available. We had three hours available, so we did the following:

    • The Blame Game (large group activity)
    • Conflict Management Types and Discussion  (quiz)
    • Stages of Church Conflict  (lecture)
    • Hurtful and Healing Words  (a game)
    • Intentional Dialogue— Behavior Change (small group activity)

    We are thankful to our friends at ABCM for inviting us. We had a great time.