After engaging the required readings for Module/Week 1, you will write a 6-page reflection on your experience with pastoral counseling; current needs, expectations of the course, and approach to pastoral counseling must be identified and concisely described.

For example, you may be a pastor in the first year of ministry with no formal training, yet armed with the conviction that God’s Word is an essential resource in counseling.

After you recall your experience and current approach, specific needs and subsequent expectations for this course must be concisely described and related to the readings assigned in Module/Week 1. The following example of a pastoral counseling reflection relates to The Pastor’s Guide to Psychological Disorders and Treatment and the Case Study.
• For example, as a new single staff pastor, a student recalled having a parishioner that probably needed to be referred to a different people-helper. However, due to being unsure of what to do, the student continued counseling with seemingly little success; consequently, the care-seeker eventually left the church unsatisfied and stuck.
• After engaging the assigned Module/Week 1 Reading & Study assignments, the student discovered that Johnson and Johnson (2014) “hopes their work will offer pastors a useful and fruitful resource as they attempt to help children, adults, and families in their churches” (p. 5). After relating a specific need to this required reading, the student hopes to be able to determine whether or not a referral may be necessary, how it should be approached, and what his/her subsequent role will be during the time of referral. In fact, he anticipates the course will help him know how to counsel someone as challenging as a Brody from the Case Study (PACO 500 LUO, 2014, Module/Week 1 Reading & Study).

Reflections must remain closely connected to assigned textbook readings (5) and the lecture note, supported by appropriate research, and current APA writing guidelines. It would be helpful to integrate supporting insights from the Week 1 Presentations as well.

The paper will be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and submitted with the correct file name (e.g., PACO500_PCR_StudentInitials), and include a cover sheet, abstract, table of contents, conclusion, a reference page, and the corresponding grading rubric (i.e., pasted on the last page of the paper). At least 1 current APA citation is required for each assigned reading and lecture note. Additional reflections from the presentations must be cited as well. The body of the paper must be within the scope of 6 pages.

The Pastoral Counseling Reflection Paper is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 1.