Program Overview
Clinical pastoral education, or CPE, refers to a clinical and dynamic form of interfaith spiritual care education with hands-on experience. This training program prepares spiritual caregivers to provide emotional and spiritual support to those in crisis. CPE mixes components of clinical, individual and group supervision to facilitate students’ growth while caring for patients, families and teammates.
What is CPE? Clinical pastoral education is an adult form of education that uses the action-reflection-action method of learning promoted by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education. CPE nurtures individuals’ personal, professional and spiritual growth by assisting students to develop a sense of self, interpersonal and cultural awareness and spiritual care skills. Also, CPE invites students to enhance their theological and philosophical perspectives, as well as their crisis, ethics and behavioral sciences theories applied to caregiving relationships.
Who should enroll? Clinical pastoral education students come from diverse backgrounds: e.g., spiritual/religious leaders, seminarians and lay people from various faith traditions and spiritualities. Given the many benefits of CPE, individuals who work with patients, parishioners and/or clients enroll in this form of education to advance their personal/professional skills and careers.
Why CPE? Come reflect on your personal spiritual journey and professional career. Receive academic credit through your school. Gain professional health care experience and meet your goals.
CPE helps students discern their ministerial calling and professional career, and some seminaries give credits to students who complete a unit of CPE. Also, CPE increases students’ self-awareness, cultural competencies and listening and interpersonal skills. CPE provides students with professional health care experience and opportunities to meet various personal, professional and spiritual goals.
The Bon Secours Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program is located at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va.
Accreditation Status
Program Name: Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program
Accreditation Status: Fully accredited by ACPE to offer CPE Levels 1A-2B and CEC training
Length of Training: Three months to one year, depending on program
Program Size: Three to five students per cohort
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
ACPE, Inc.
1 Concourse Pkwy, Suite 800
Atlanta, Ga. 30328
Phone: 404-320-1472
Fax: 404-320-0849
Email: acpe@acpe.edu