From pastoral care to professional counselling: the development of higher education counselling training underpinned by a Christian worldview and in dialogue with Christian faith/religion/spirituality

In this context statement, I provide a reflexive audit of the Public Works submitted for the Doctorate in Psychotherapy (a joint award by Metanoia and Middlesex University). The main theme of the Public Works is the development of Higher Education counselling training which is underpinned by a Christian worldview and facilitates a dialogue between Christian faith/religion/spirituality and
psychological/psychotherapeutic theories in the context of counselling practice. As I reflect on the Public Works, a number of further themes are explored. Two significant themes are, firstly, my recognition of the resistance and suspicion that has been demonstrated by a number of Christians and Christian leaders in the UK towards counselling and counselling training. A second theme refers to the resistance and avoidance I have experienced by some within the counselling profession to the notion of integrating Christian faith/religion/spirituality with counselling theory and practice. In addition, whilst in recent years I consider the profession has become more open to spirituality, nevertheless, I believe there remains a level of avoidance of working with a client’s Christian
faith/religious/spiritual issues.

My Public Works were largely born out of my desire to address the conflict between these two somewhat hostile groups. I became strongly motivated to develop a framework that embraced psychological insights, was explicitly underpinned by a Christian worldview and, in addition, acknowledged the importance of the use of Christian faith/religious/spiritual interventions with clients, when appropriate. This led to the development of three professional Higher Education counselling programmes. Firstly, a BA (Hons) Counselling programme, unique in that it is the only single honours Higher Education counselling programme in the UK that is underpinned by a Christian worldview and facilitates a dialogue between Christian
faith/religion/spirituality and psychology/psychotherapeutic theories. Secondly, two post-graduate programmes: an MA in Counselling and an MA in Therapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy (for qualified practitioners) also both underpinned by the same approach and a Christian worldview.

In this context statement, I will demonstrate that in undertaking the Public Works, I have engaged with three specific audiences: firstly, the Christian church, secondly, secular counselling professionals and thirdly, Christians who have sought counselling training underpinned by a Christian worldview and where the insights from both Christian faith/religion/spirituality and psychological theories/counselling practice are considered and mutually respected. In addition, I will outline my journey and provide a reflexive account and critique on the personal and professional influences that have motivated me to develop the Public Works. Furthermore, I will provide evidence that my Public Works have extended understanding in the field of psychotherapy and generated new knowledge. This includes demonstrating to both the Christian community and to secular counselling professionals, that it is possible to deliver professional counselling training that is validated by a University, enables graduates to become registered counsellors with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and/or the Association of Christian Counsellors and is explicitly underpinned by a Christian worldview.