Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Situations of Abuse and Trauma (DP2006S)

This unit will introduce students to research, spiritual care approaches and methods of reflective practice related to abuse and trauma in relationships, institutions and society. It will provide opportunity for group and individual reflection on a number of specific forms of abuse and trauma arising in the spiritual care context. A case study approach will enable the student to engage the theological/spiritual issues, develop their spiritual care skills and integrate insights and learning from other helping professions within their spiritual care practice.

Content Warning: This unit contains subject matter and content that may cause distress, trigger personal trauma, or generate spiritual struggle. Content will include reference to spiritual, sexual, relational and child abuse. Content will also include strong visual images and filmed footage of real trauma in situations including road accident, personal injury, and military combat injury. You are strongly advised to prepare for the possibility that you may need psycho-spiritual support (counsellor, professional supervisor, or spiritual director) for the duration of this unit. You may not be aware of the presence of abuse and or trauma in your own experience until content in this unit triggers memory and emotional response. This generates a level of spiritual and psychological risk that you must be aware of in order to undertake this unit safely and effectively.  You are not required to look at or view any material that you think may cause you psycho-spiritual distress of any kind. If you do experience distress, are triggered, or require pastoral assistance at any time during the unit please make this known to 

1. Unit lecturer (Dr Christopher Turner) or
2. Dean of Students (Dr Angela Sawyer) or
3. Free and confidential pastoral support service ‘True Success’.

Your health and safety are of paramount importance to us. No concern is too small for you to share if you need assistance. 

Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Outline and critically engage current research on patterns and cycles of relational and societal abuse and trauma.
2. Describe and critique the cultural, social, psychological and theological myths which perpetuate abuse and trauma.
3. Articulate and critique the rationale behind community and faith-community based programs with victim/survivors and perpetrators of a variety of forms of abuse.
4. Identify and develop spiritual care resources for responding to expressions of abuse within faith communities and in particular become familiar with spiritual and theological themes behind the use of ‘professional ethics protocols’ and ‘codes of conduct’.
5. Become aware of the limits and possibilities of spiritual care approaches to dealing with sexual abuse and violence specifically from within the faith community context.