Unique education that explores Spiritual Health in a changing world.
Providence Care, a Catholic health organization, is Southeastern Ontario’s leading provider of specialized care in aging, mental health and rehabilitation. Consisting of Providence Care Hospital, Providence Manor long-term care home, and 22 community services, we care for more than 15,000 patients, clients and residents from across the region. Established in Kingston, Ontario by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in 1861, Providence Care continues the legacy of being the heart and hands of compassion for persons needing complex medical care, restorative rehabilitative care, respite care, seniors rehabilitative care, palliative care, mental health services and long-term care.
Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) fulfills the requirements for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or Pastoral Counseling Education (PCE) through a blending of the curriculum and requirements. Learning is designed to be transferable to various contexts: health care facilities, community settings, private counseling practice, parish ministry, and justice. Students accepted into the courses will register and receive academic credit with Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Ontario.
Courses can be used by participants for certification by the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care and registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Features of Providence Care’s Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) courses include:
- Student-centered learning focused on your professional calling and career path
- Skills and knowledge for clinical practice with persons living with chronic health challenges
- Fundamental theoretical foundations to inform your clinical practice and self-knowledge
- Insight into the significant influence of a person’s beliefs and worldviews on her/his spiritual health
- No on-call or after hours duties
- A team of certified Spiritual Health Practitioners from whom you can learn
- Small group learning (maximum of 4 students) that enables what students describe as “adventure in self-learning” as well as close supervision of your clinical practice
- Participation in courses through OTN videoconference for persons employed in the field of spiritual health in remote regions of Ontario
Courses being offered:
Basic SPE Course (11 weeks)
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
May 11, 2021 to July 27, 2021
Application deadline: January 15, 2021
Advanced SPE Course (27 weeks)
Two days per week
September 15, 2020 to April 6, 2021
Application deadline: May 15, 2020
Reference Letter
Application Form
Teaching Supervisor
Rev. Dr. Neil Elford is a CASC certified Spiritual Care Educator and Psycho-spiritual Therapist Educator as well as being a registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. He holds Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Arts degrees and is ordained by the United Church of Canada. He is the Director for Spiritual Health, Mission and Ethics at Providence Care and Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston. His specific strengths in supervision lie in the integration of personal and professional identity. He has a strong background in personality theory, having done his doctoral studies on the integration of spirituality in the professional identity development of CPE students. Students experience Neil as approachable, authentic, direct and patient.
Provisional Supervisor Educator
Andrea Thompson is a CASC certified Spiritual Care Practitioner and Provisional Supervisor Educator as well as being a registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education degree. She is the Spiritual Health Education Coordinator for Providence Care. She has experience providing spiritual care in a variety of settings including correctional facilities, long-term care, palliative care and adult mental health.
Spiritual Health Staff
There are 5 Spiritual Health Practitioners in clinical practice in Providence Care. Students will be working and learning alongside these clinicians in the clinical programs of Providence Care.
Contact Information
Andrea Thompson, CASC Provisional Supervisor Educator, R.P
Spiritual Health Education Coordinator
Providence Care Hospital
752 King Street W. Kingston, ON K7L 4X3
613 544-4900 ext 53142
thompsoa@providencecare.ca
Visit our Spiritual Health page.
