Spiritual Care and Counseling

HDS 2927 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course provides an inclusive exploration of spiritual care and counseling, designed for individuals from diverse religious traditions, as well as those who do not identify with a tradition. As an introduction, the course focuses on understanding the idea of spiritual care, examining its role in fostering well-being and addressing the needs of individuals and communities through a lens that honors diversity and intersectionality. The course is also dedicated to developing practical counseling skills, including brief interventions, attending and listening techniques, and the safe and effective use of self in giving care. Students will engage in self-reflection and consider the roles of empathy, ethical boundaries, and self-care in spiritual caregiving. By integrating theoretical knowledge and applied practice, students will cultivate the basic skills and insights needed to provide thoughtful, compassionate care.

HDS 2927 is a limited enrollment course and requires instructor permission. Students should submit a petition in my.Harvard to indicate interest in the class. The instructor will review petitions during the first enrollment period and review any subsequent petitions after the first day of classes. Any students interested in the course who have not petitioned by the end of the first enrollment period should attend the first day of class, at which point any remaining petitions will be processed.