Some photos from our trip to Baler, Aurora, for training of SK leaders of barangays in Maria Aurora. Celia and Bob Munson did the primary trainings, with assistance by the Ysrael and Fhey Coyoy and Arnold and Rose Arquillano. The topics were Depression and Conflict.
Periodically, we get asked what we do… and what we don’t do. So here is a list of activities.
DO: We do pastoral counseling with people who come to us. This type of counseling is “spiritual informed” but utilizes insights from the social sciences and the 2000 years of church history (embracing an “integrationist approach.” Counseling is done free of charge. Donations are not refused, but also not encouraged.
DON’T: We don’t do clinical psychological counseling. We also don’t embrace a nuothetic or “bible-only” approach to counseling.
DO: We hold certified training in Clinical Pastoral Education. This certification is through CPSP (College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy) and CPSP-Philippines. We do charge for this form of training (typically P15,000 per full unit, and P8,000 per half unit).
DO: We also hold seminars on various topics like depression, abuse, basic counseling skills, conflict resolution, family relationships, and more. We normally do these on request from hosts. We don’t normally charge for such trainings, but do expect the host to provide venue, sound and video systems, snacks, and promotions. If we have to travel a sizable distance, we would expect lodging, food, and travel costs covered.
DON’T: We are not a certified provider of CPD (Certified Professional Development) trainings as identified by the Philippine Regulatory Commission.
DO: Do refer to specialists for issues that are better handled by others, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers, and so forth.
DON’T: We don’t do formal psychological assessments (such as is needed for activities like court cases, or government requirements).
DO: We also do practical chaplaincy work in hospital and jail settings.
DO: We welcome visitors to our office on the grounds of Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (19 Tacay Road, Baguio City, Philippines)
DON’T: Don’t just show up without appointment. We are a group of volunteers and so we are often not at the office. When we are at the office already holding training or doing counseling. If someone is there at the office and not busy, he or she would be happy to talk, but it is better to contact us first.
DO: We do have training materials available– much of it self-produced. Books on Pastoral Counseling are available at our office and on the Web. These we have to charge for. Electronic resources are also available online… especially on http://www.slideshare,net.
November 14. CPE Commissioning Service
November 22. Completion of CPE Full Unit
November 23. Pastoral Care Training Seminar. Puguis, La Trinidad
December 9. Conflict Resolution Training. Maria Aurora, Aurora Province
Individual Counseling course will be held this January (2020) at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Charles Henderson will be leading this course from January 13-24. Sign up soon while there is still time.
At the La Trinidad Jail was the celebration of National Correctional Consciousness Week with our group, among others, honored for our participation in the care of PDLs (Persons Deprived of Liberty). This was held on October 25, 2019. We are thankful that Chaplains Lyn Montecastro and Shoneem Ejaz were able to attend and represent the team there.
July 26, 2019 we held CPE Commissioning for our 9 trainees at Bukal Life Care (with Diplomate Supervisor Celia Munson and Supervisor in Training Lyn Montecastro). We also welcomed 6 recent CPE trainees from Saint Andrews Theological Seminary (with Diplomate Supervisor Paul Tabon). The commissioning was held at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. Father Ivo Anselmi provided an inspirational message on family, and each of the trainees provided their ministerial metaphor to the group. Afterwards, all joined at the PBTS canteen for celebratory lunch.
Other photos of the event can be found at the Munson’s blogpage: https://bobandceliamunson.wordpress.com/2019/07/28/cpe-commissioning/
Congratulations to our CPE trainees for Summer Intensive 2019.
Ameenah, Asami, Chara, Solomon, Xerxes, Matthew, and Kimcheng
Our next CPE unit starts June 10, 2019
We started CPE this week for our Summer Intensive with 7 trainees. We had some changes in our follow-on units due to schedules of some trainees. This list updates these changes.
March 12: Start of Summer Intensive
March 29: Training at Center Hope for Women
April 15: Mid-term Eval
May 10: Commissioning
June (perhaps June 3) Orientation for new CPE Unit
June 11 Start of CPO
In our partnership with Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS), we are happy to have the first graduates of the new Pastoral Care programs at PBTS. They are the first in decades. We are justifiably pleased and proud.
—MDiv-PC: Daniel Spaeth
—MA-PC: Dorina Belran
Christine Fodra
Bukal Life Care 