Clinical Applications in Missionary Care Syllabus

CNC 9474 - Clinical Applications in Missionary Care

Syllabus (3 s.h.)

Winter Semester, 2014     Class Dates: January 13-17, 2014     Dr. Roni Pruitt

Email:     Campus ext:

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND METHODOLOGY

This course is designed to increase understanding of various aspects in the utilization of clinical knowledge and expertise from the mental health professions for missionary care. Considerations of ethics, professional relationships, influence of untreated pathology on the work and community, and various personal, interpersonal and systematic dynamics will be considered. Biblical, spiritual and psychological underpinnings will be articulated as well as types of clinical resources, referral procedures and collaboration between general missionary caregivers and clinical service providers. The place of psychological consultation as a model for clinical care will be discussed. A focus will be on recognition of need, and procedures for referral and follow-up for those needing and/or receiving clinical help. Knowledge of available approaches and resources will be considered. Students will be expected to demonstrate application potential from readings and class discussions to their own ministry situations in a post-seminar project.

Class Sessions:

A variety of learning activities will take place in the seminar, including lecture, discussion, question and answer, case studies, small group work and demonstration. As much as possible, students will be given opportunities to bring their own ministry observations and experiences in interaction with one another, the course instructor and course material. Occasions will be developed for some discussion and synthesis of guest presentations.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, the student should be able to do the following:

A. Have an increased understanding and appreciation of aspects of resilient mental health that are relevant to effective missionary care.

B. Possess greater comfort with and be able to better discriminate the normal and abnormal ranges of selected psychological and emotional dynamics.

C. Be more conversant regarding various behavioral features for which clinical care may be indicated (e.g. moderate to severe stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, burnout, effects of exposure to crisis and trauma, unremediated developmental “bruising,” addiction, complicated grief, and family/marital dysfunction.)

D. Utilize increased knowledge of the services provided by clinical professionals in making referrals to and/or collaborating with them in missionary care.

E. Be more cognizant of and develop skills in crisis applications, coaching care, and clinical care as related to missionary health care.

F. Have relevant knowledge and understanding sufficient to tentatively design plans for the provision of clinical and coaching applications in the overall flow of missionary care.

III. COURSE TEXTS

Required Foundational Reading

Powell, John R. and Bowers, Joyce M. (eds., 2002) Enhancing Missionary Vitality: Mental Health Professions Serving Missions. Palmer Lake, CO: Mission Training International. Read pages 15-64 and 175-474.

Required

Davediuk Gingrich, Heather (2013) Restoring the Shattered Self: A Christian Counselor's Guide to Complex Trauma. IVP Academic Press.

Schaefer, Frauke C. and Charles A (2012). Trauma & Resilience: A Handbook. Condeo Press.

Schubert, Esther (2012 rev). What Missionaries Need to Know about Burnout and Depression. New Castle, IN: Olive Branch Publications

Sommers-Flanagan, John and Rita (2003). Clinical Interviewing, 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

The Coaching Workshop for Christian Leaders. (Only available for purchase in class from professor).

Recommended

Benner, David G. (2003) Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-Term Structured Model. Baker Academic. (Good information on how to structure a counseling session.)

Davediuk Gingrich, Heather (2012) Dissociation in the Philippines: A Study of Trauma, Coping, and Culture in a Student Sample. Lambert Academic Publishing. (Great for a clinician who will be doing therapy in another language and culture.)

Donovan, Kath (2002 rev.) Growing through Stress. Berrien Springs, MI: Institute of World Missions, Andrews University.

Eenigenburg, Sue and Robynn Bliss (2010) Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission. William Carey Library. (Burnout from field challenges from a woman’s perspective.)

Hay, Rob et al (eds) (2007) Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library. (Many important aspects of need and opportunity for missionary care from various international perspectives, with implications for clinical care as well.)

Maslach, Christina (2003) Burnout: The Cost of Caring. Cambridge, MA: Major Books, Published by ISHK. (Research based and applied to a range of care giving, but with clear implications for member care and clinical interventions.)

O’Donnell, Kelly (ed) (1992) Missionary Care: Counting the Cost of World Evangelism. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library. (An early and ground-breaking book with articles on member care with clinical implications, and now virtually a classic.)

Taylor, William D. (ed.) (1998) Too Valuable to Lose: Exploring the Causes and Cures of Missionary Attrition. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library. (A forerunner of Worth Keeping (above). Part I, Chs. 1-4 are especially valuable as foundational background for material covered in this seminar.)

Wright, H. Norman (2000) Recovering from the Losses of Life. Grand Rapids, Ml. (An excellent resource for gaining exposure to fundamental skills and concepts which may be useful to a range of member care providers and gaining an understanding of dynamics in a range of loss experiences and how to help, refer and/or cope.)

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A. Attendance

Due to the block intensive format of this course, students are required to attend and actively participate in all sessions and small group activities.

B. Reading

Approximately 1400 pages of assigned reading is required. Foundational reading must be completed first. Next attention should then be given to texts listed under required reading. If a book has been previously read, then select a text from the recommended reading list. Please read the Schaefer book on Trauma before reading the Gingrich book on Trauma for flow of content.

C. Papers and Projects

Three written assignments will be required.

Pre Course Assignment:

A Reflective Workbook will accompany the required text Clinical Interviewing. Students will be asked to comprehend and apply the text to their Member Care setting. Due:

Post Course Project:

A missionary will be identified to conduct a counseling or coaching sessions with using skills or techniques taught and practiced in the class. A two page paper is required summarizing which skills were utilized, how the skills application were implemented, the level of comfort for the client and counselor, level of effectiveness of technique, and what would be desired to modify in the future. Due:

Post Course Paper:

In consultation with the professor a common clinical emotional disorder or personality disorder that is prevalent to member care is to be selected. The disorder is to be research for it’s origins, symptomology, criterion for diagnosis, different types of treatment, and prognosis. Further reporting will denote how the disorder is enacted in missions and can be met with proactive measures in the missions context. Fourteen written pages need to offer an informative report that contains practical implications with a proactive plan of addressing the disorder in a missions context. Due:

V. Estimate of Work Hours Required for the Course

Reading

Reflection Workbook

Seminar Attendance

Post-Seminar Project

Paper

ESTIMATED TOTAL =

VI. Grading

Seminar Attendance and Participation

Completion of Reading

Pre-Seminar Workbook

Post-Seminar Project

Post-Seminar Paper

ATTACHMENT A

Attestation of Preparatory Reading

(To be completed and submitted to instructor by .)

Name

ATTACHMENT B

Clinical Disorder Paper Evaluation Sheet

Name:    Date Due:    Campus Box #:    Date Turned In:

1. Research & Writing Skills

a. Number of literary resources used

1-2    3-5    6-7    8-9    10+

Written expression and grammar:

2. Past Orientation

a. History of the disorder

b. Symptomology and diagnosis criterion of the disorder

c. Different types of treatment of the disorder and expected prognosis

3. Present Orientation

a. How the disorder is enacted in the missions context and impacts the context

b. Proactive measures that can be utilized in the missions context

Grade for the project:

ATTACHMENT C

RESEARCH PAPER FORM

(MUST BE ATTACHED TO ALL HARD COPY PAPERS SUBMITTED)

Students submitting written papers in hard copy must provide additional information so the instructor will be able to provide written feedback on the paper and return it to the students.

Student’s Name

Mailing Address

E-Mail Address

Your hard copy paper with professor’s comments will be returned by mail unless other arrangements are made. However, every effort will be made to return papers submitted at the beginning and during the seminar by the end of the seminar.

Comments: