Courses

This course is intended to contribute to the ethical development of persons pastors, spiritual care workers (chaplains), and professional counsellors. This course is designed to offer participants a foundational knowledge of the field of professional ethics, the process of ethical decisional making and, hence, to contribute to the student’s overall ethical development. This course will provide students with opportunities to explore the nature of professional and pastoral relationships and integrate their own personal values into their understanding of ethics. The student will read resources from the field of professional ethics, reflect on specific codes of ethics (e.g., CRPO, CASC/ACSS, code of ethics denominational or other professional code of ethics) and reflect on relevant legislation. Through reflection on pertinent case examples students will develop ethical reasoning skills to help them make informed decisions with respect to the interests of clients, families, agencies, and others. Students are expected to reflect on their own personal and professional experience. NOTE: This course is designed to meet the professional certification and registration requirements for the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), the College of Regulated Psychotherapists of Ontario, etc.

Knowing

• The student will familiarize themselves with the relevant codes of ethics governing the practice of counselling and spiritual care (chaplaincy).
• The student will become familiar with the competencies related to ethical behaviour as defined by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care and Practice (CASC/ACSS).
• The student will be familiar with the processes of ethical decision-making within the context of their work as counselors or spiritual care providers.
• The student will understand the differences between “ethical concerns,” “moral issues,” and “legality.”

Being

• The student will become self-aware of how their values shape their response to ethical concerns that arise within the context of their work as counselors or spiritual care providers.

Doing

• The student will engage in ethical decision-making with respect to situations that arise within the context of their work as counselors or spiritual care providers.
• The student will be able to support or guide others in the process of ethical decision-making.