This course earns 1 elective credit
Overview
This course Pastoral Counseling 2SLGBTQIA+ Jews and their loved ones will give students an overview of clinical and theoretical considerations on 2SLGBTQIA+ identity formation and sexual orientation development that can guide their rabbinic and pastoral counseling. An overview of adverse religious experiences, religious trauma, SOGIECE (sexual orientation and gender identity and expression change efforts) practices, and conversion “therapy” will be provided. Students will begin to consider how these learnings will inform their rabbinate.
Course Learning Objectives
At the end of this 15-hour course on Pastoral Counseling 2SLGBTQIA+ Jews and their loved ones, students will be able to identify and explain the following:
Common pastoral concerns and clergy interventions
Pastoral perspectives on identity formation
Pastoral perspectives on sexual orientation development
Trauma-informed practices in the rabbinate
Pastoral implications of “adverse religious experiences” and “religious trauma”
Pastoral implications of SOGIECE practices and conversion “therapy” and its impacts on queer people and their loved ones
Pastoral perspectives on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and their loved ones
Course Readings
Carey, L & Hodgson, T. (2018) Chaplaincy, Spiritual Care and Moral Injury: Considerations Regarding Screening and Treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 9: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00619/full
Dr. Todd Grande (2016) Theories of Counseling: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: https://youtu.be/ovck87LCd3E?feature=shared
Wolkenfeld, S. (2021) How Jewish Youth Groups are breeding a toxic sexual culture for teens. https://newvoices.org/2021/07/13/investigation-how-jewish-youth-groups-are-breeding-a-toxic-sexual-culture-for-teens/
University of Buffalo: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care: https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/what-is-trauma-informed-care.html
Sample verbatim of a Clinical Pastoral Education Encounter: https://chaplainsreport.com/2011/08/15/a-bit-of-what-clinical-pastoral-education-does/
Another valuable class by Rabbi Siritsky. Provides much-needed teaching around trauma-informed care that is applicable to pastoral care when working with any congregant. Teaching style is well-organized and deeply intentional, delivered in a personable way. Source materials and slides are relevant, quizzes are accurate.