Student 1
SO WHAT?
Throughout this course, I have learned and been able to apply all of the tools provided to real life scenario’s. Kollar’s, “Solution – Focused Pastoral Counseling”, enabled me to counsel, in real time, the father of a childhood friend. Though his name was not Bruce, the tools that I was using to counsel “Bruce” were actually be used in real life. Mr. Damon, lost his wife and daughter within one year of each other. The level of Grief that Mr. Damon experienced reverberated throughout the lives of many within my hometown community. Today, I asked Mr. Damon if he would participate in a mens grief support group if I were able to locate one and he told me that he would. Kollar says, “How each person and family deals with death, dying and loss is unique. All experience something typically reffered to as grief.” (P.200) Being at the end of a Healthcare Chaplaincy degree helps. We have rapport because of our military careers and long ago I told him that my goal was to become a chaplain so that I could provide pastoral care for veterans battling with mental health.
For me personally, I have had to heal from divorce. I battled the guilt of divorce for three years. I did not think that my ministry efforts would be effective because I thought that everyone would see me as a failure and under the cloud of a failed divorce after 19 years of marriage. Going through this Pastoral Counseling course has allowed me to see the needs of others over my own. As I have been moving toward healing and submitting to a counseling process as well, I can say that I have made exponential progress because of this course.
WHATS NEXT?
Veterans Administration – (Self Care) I have committed to ensuring that I participate in small groups, run groups and group counseling sessions to care for the level of PTSD and other traumatic events that I have experienced. I have found several things that are therapeutic and the veterans administration have assisted me in being able to participate in these areas.
Safe and secure helping relationships – I lean on the veteran community heavy. Not all veterans are in ministry and not all in ministry are veterans. I have some experiences that my ministerial counterparts are not able to help with so I have to lean on those who are in the veteran community. I also have spiritual things that many of my veteran friends are not able to help with. I have a well rounded support community for myself. Those within this support system, I know understand the things that I know they are able to help me process through.
Further training – I am going to continue further training by pursuing Clinical Pastoral Education. I am planning to attend a Veterans Administration Residency where I will work with veterans and their families in the VA’s hospital. My hope is that I can achieve the full 7 units of CPE.
Bibliography
Kollar, C. A. (2011). Solution-focused pastoral counseling (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ISBN: 9780310329299.