Self-care and Rituals (SC8005Z)

Postgraduate, 12.0 points

Content

This unit will enable participants to explore self-care and rituals, to help them flourish as spiritual care practitioners. It will also explore the use of rituals in our spiritual care of others. The course will cover the following topics:

  1. Self-care and self-regulation for spiritual care practitioners
  2. Self-care rituals to help maintain professional practice
  3. Rituals for spiritual care of others
  4. Critical self-reflection

Unit code: SC8005Z

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 12.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Spiritual Care

Proposing College: Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

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Learning outcomes

1.

Analyse the concepts of self-care and self-regulation for spiritual care practitioners.
2.

Critique own self-care rituals to help maintain professional practice as a spiritual care practitioner.
3.

Investigate the importance of rituals for the spiritual care of others.
4.

Practice critical self-reflection to guide own formation as a spiritual care practitioner.

Pedagogy

Seminars, group work, case studies, peer groups and reflective practice activities

Indicative Bibliography

  • Fuller, Leanna K. “In Defense of Self-Care.” Journal of Pastoral Theology 28, no. 1 (2018): 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10649867.2018.1459106.
  • Journal for Religion, Spirituality & Aging.
  • Niven, Alan. 'What ritual teaches about life, humor and ageing. Or vice versa?', Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging , 33, 2 (2021): 223-235, DOI: 10.1080/15528030.2020.1850604
  • Olson, Richard P. A Guide to Ministry Self-Care: Negotiating Today’s Challenges with Resilience and Grace. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
  • Roberts, Stephen, and Willard W. C. Ashley. Disaster Spiritual Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Regional, and National Tragedy. SkyLight Paths Pub., 2008.
  • Weller, Francis. The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief. North Atlantic Books, 2015.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio 3000 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 11:37:10 +1000