Gestalt Pastoral Care Training Opportunities

Foundational Training This is the initial course for Gestalt Pastoral Care training and a prerequisite for two other courses. It is held in two locations: Dingmans Ferry and Alburtis, both located in Pennsylvania. The Dingmans Ferry class is a one-year program, consisting of five four-day meetings. The Alburtis class is a two-year program, and has monthly one-day meetings. Cost for this program is $3000, and space is limited to 12 students per course. A new Dingmans Ferry class is currently filling up: see below for details, and be sure to reserve your seat early!

Practicum
Prerequisite: Gestalt Pastoral Care Foundational Training
This class is an opportunity for further supervised practice as a Gestalt Pastoral Care guide, and also for doing your own work. The class meets for three four-day sessions over the course of a year.

Advanced Class
Prerequisite: Gestalt Pastoral Care Foundational and Advanced Practicum Training
In some instances a one-year format will be designed for different locations. Explore the nature of various injuries, and how to address them. The cost for this class is $1600, and meets for three four-day sessions over the course of a year.

push pin image Foundational Training 2010-2011
Description
Pastors and others in healing ministry deal with broken, hurting people every day. Often we don't know how to help. We refer people to other professionals when perhaps we ourselves might be the ones who could best offer what people need. This training program will focus on:

  • Helping us reclaim our unique contribution as pastors and people of faith: the role of worship and ritual in the healing process, the therapeutic value of confession and forgiveness, the function of shepherding people to allow God to heal their pain, the practice of laying on of hands.

  • Theoretical background and practical skills.

  • A model of healing ministry which is both theologically and psychologically responsible

Dates/Times
All classes begin at noon on Wednesday, and end at noon on Saturday
at Dingmans Ferry, PA (80 miles W. of NYC, 20 miles N. of Stroudsburg)

  • September 29 - October 2, 2010
  • December 1 - December 4, 2010
  • March 23 - March 26, 2011
  • May 11 - May 14, 2011
  • September 14 - September 17, 2011
Teachers for these sessions will be Tilda Norberg and Rhoda Glick

For Further Information
Contact Tilda Norberg (718-273-4941 / tilda@gestaltpastoralcare.com). Here is biographical information for all Gestalt Pastoral Care teachers.

push pin image Advanced Class
Description
PREREQUISITE: The Advanced Class can only be taken by those who have completed BOTH the foundational (basic) course AND the advanced practicum.

In this class participants go deeper into theory and practice. They will broaden their understanding of how to, when to and why apply the principles of Gestalt Pastoral Care. Themes to be explored include:

When the way is long and difficult

  • Core wounds and interpersonal difficulties
The healing relationship in Gestalt Pastoral Care
  • Sitting with self and other
  • Awareness and contact
  • Interruptions to contact
  • Discerning order in the healing process: how persons move and grow in the healing process
  • Shame as impasse and wound
Embodiment in Gestalt Pastoral Care
  • Touch and bodywork/laying on of hands and prayer
  • Bodily nature of experience

Advanced classes are currently in session. A new schedule for 2010-2011 will be posted in the near future, reflecting upcoming classes.

Registration/Contact Information
Please contact Sara Goold at 203-227-3312 or at sara@gestaltpastoralcare.com for more detailed information and to register. A class packet will be provided upon registration and a $300 deposit made out to "GPCEA". Here is biographical information for all Gestalt Pastoral Care teachers.