CPSP

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New Book by Raymond Lawrence

Congratulations on the publication of Dr. Raymond Lawrence’s new book, “Nine More Clinical Cases: Case Studies in Clinical Pastoral Care, Counseling and Psychotherapy.” He is the General Secretary of The College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (that parent organization of CPSP-Philippines). The book is a critique of nine of the cases in a book by Nolan and Fitchett. In fact, it is a sequel critique of Nolan and Fichett’s sequel. If you are confused, it is like this:

Book by George Fitchett and Steve NolanCritique by Raymond Lawrence
First Book CycleSpiritual Care in Practice: Case Studies in Healthcare ChaplaincyNine Clinical Cases: The Soul of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Second Book CycleCase Studies in Spiritual Care: Healthcare Chaplaincy Assessments, Interventions & OutcomesNine More Clinical Cases: Case Studies in Clinical Pastoral Care, Counseling and Psychotherapy

Lawrence embraces very different philosophical and practical views of chaplaincy from Fitchett and Nolan. However, as noted by Robert Powell in the Foreward of Lawrence’s book, the goal is to present a critique of the first to give two different perspectives and invite readers to decide for themselves. Lawrence sees himself as in the tradition of Anton Boisen… who embraced an integration of theological and psychoanalytic principles. Fitchett and Nolan draw from the tradition of Cabot… embracing a more religious role for chaplains, disconnected from the healing work in hospitals.

One thing that Lawrence, Fitchett, and Nolan clearly appear to agree on is the value of case studies for presentation, analysis and critique. Curiously, that was an are that Boisen and Cabot also agreed. So readers are invited to read the cases, and the critiques and decide for themselves.

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CPSP-Philippines Timeline

2010, Bukal Life Care and Counseling Center started teaching Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for chaplains and ministers.

2011. Bukal Life Care formed a verbal partnership with an organization called CPSP, based in the United States. CPSP is a collegial body of pastoral counselors and clinical chaplains, and works to certify these specialties and accredit training facilities for these based on established standards. Bukal Life Care became the first training center recognized in the Philippines by CPSP, and several members of Bukal became part of the first CPSP-recognized CPE supervisors-in-training in the Philippines.

2014 Bukal Life Care-Manila became a separate entity led by Dr. Sim Dang-Awan Jr. under the new, New Hope. Later, the name was changed to Jethro Guidance Center.

2015 We established a formal MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) between CPSP and CPSP-Philippines. The established us formally in our relationship with CPSP.

2016. Four SITs (Doc Sim, Doc Cal, Doc Paul, and Chap. Celia) became the first full Supervisors with CPSP-Philippines. Up to this time, our organization only had Supervisors-in-Training. Each supervisor had his/her own training center, making a total of four training centers.

2019. We signed an updated MOA with CPSP.

So why did we help form this organization? There were a few reasons. One reason was the rather sorry state of chaplaincy and pastoral counseling in the Philippines. I read an article written in 1981 of the state of pastoral counseling and chaplaincy in Southeast Asia. The article sounded like it could have been written in 2010. Few things had changed. There were, I suspect, a few reasons for this.

People who trained to be a chaplain or a pastoral counselor tended to leave the Philippines. They were valued in other countries, but one could hardly earn a living in the Philippines in these roles. Pastoral counseling is not really recognized in the Philippines. Hospital chaplaincy has traditionally been simply a post assigned by the local bishop to a priest to carry out sacraments in the hospital. Community chaplaincy was typically held by people who were part of an organization that was originally set up to fight corruption but had gradually (in many locations) become a part of that corruption.

Over the years, doors have begun to open, just a bit.

  • CPSP-Philippines now has 7 active training centers, and 2 more in inactive status.
  • We have chaplains heading… something like 5 hospitals, one corporate chaplaincy program, and several school, college, and seminary chaplaincy roles.
  • The next generation of pastoral counselors/chaplains are really starting to step up and take on roles to expand the work that we began. They are starting to hold webinars, writing books, online counseling and support groups, and expanding into corporate work, retirement homes, and more.

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October Updates to all Members

Happy September 27th to everyone.

A. August and September was supposed to be the months for collecting annual dues. Some have paid, but some have not been able to. Because of the pandemic, and the limited ability of CPSP-Philippines to provide services during this time, annual fees for 2020 are not required. Annual fees will be counted for 12 months starting January 1st, 2021. Anyone who has already paid for 2020, their payments are good for now through all of 2021. (Those who have not paid by January 31, 2021 will be considered Inactive Members.)

B. In 2021, we plan to have our first Diplomate Board. It will be for “Diplomate Supervisor in Clinical Pastoral Education/Training.” The standards for this board are located at https://cpspphilippines.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/diplomate-board-standards-2020.pdf. Those SITs (Supervisors in Training) who think they may qualify for this board, talk to their Supervisors. Only those SITs recommended by a Supervisor in good standing with CPSP-Philippines will be considered.

C. One of the hallmarks of CPSP is the use of Chapter Life. Many have found it challenging to maintain their chapters, and it is even more difficult during quarantine. For those with online CPE groups, an equivalent of Chapter Life is possible, but this does not help those who are not currently trainees. A suggestion for these times is to establish Online Counselor Support Groups. These can meet online for 1 to 2 hours weekly or every other week. These are to provide case conferences, group work relations, and general supportive community for pastoral counselors and ministers during these times. It is our hope that all training centers (diplomates and SITs) will consider establishing these… especially with their former trainees.

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CPSP-Philippines Articles

This article was written a few years ago about work of Bukal Life Care in a number of disaster responses from 2009-2016. A copy is available on Academia.edu. You can click on the link below.

Snapshots of Faith, Hope, and Growth in Disaster Response Chaplaincy

Another article was part of the Bukal Life Care Journal (2012) relevant also to Disaster Response Chaplaincy

Divine Intervention: The Flight of Elijah in Dialogue with Crisis Care

Of course, you are also welcome to preview CPSP-Philippines Books. They are available for preview by CLICKING HERE FOR OUR BOOKSTORE.

 

 

 

 

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Membership Updates

2019 is a transition year for CPSP-Philippines. We have been moving to a new format of handling members. In line with that, here are a few parameters to the new situation.

Initial Membership

There is a one-time charge of P1000 and application that must be filled out.  The application can be downloaded HERE. Once the form is filled out, email it as indicated on the form. Give a copy to the convener of the chapter you are joining. Additionally, payment may be made to the account indicated under FINANCIAL MATTERS.  (In some cases, finances can be done through the convener of the chapter.)

This form of membership is valid for the life of the member. Exceptions to this are the removal from membership at the request of the member, and violation of the Ethics and/or Covenant of CPSP-Philippines as identified by the members chapter, and confirmed after review by the Standards Committee.

Active versus Inactive Membership

There are two requirements for maintaining active status. First, yearly fee of P500 is to be made in one of the two ways indicated above. Second, one must maintain good standing with a CPSP-Philippines Chapter. The convener will yearly provide the registrar of the chapter membership. The payment of P500 is good for 12 months from the date that the payment was identified as received. 2 months of grace period at the 12 month point will be given before the member is moved to the inactive role.  <Note:  A member may choose to pay for two years rather than one. However, two years is the longest period accepted.

Return from Inactive Membership to Active Membership

The transition back to Active Membership from Inactive is quite simple. Payment of the Annual Fee, and a letter from the member’s chapter stating the return to active status.

Certifications

CPSP-Philippines only recognizes certifications of active members. However, the certification is not canceled. Upon resumption of Active status, the certification is again recognized.

Effectivity

These rules will be fully implemented January 1st, 2020.  However, in line with the 2 month grace period listed above, verification of payment of fees and activity within the chapter must be completed by February 29th, 2020.  Annual Fee payments that were done during 2019 will be valid for 12 months (and 2 month grace period).

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CPSP-Philippines Meeting

We held a meeting of CPSP-Philippines planning meeting on July 6, 2019 at Bukal Life Care. We had representatives from the following CPE Centers:

Bukal Life Care

Glocal Community

New Heights

Hesed

We had a productive meeting, and updates will be made in the next few weeks based on this meeting. Below is picture of the group (minus the registrar who was behind the camera) at lunch after the meeting.

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CPE Graduation– Glocal Community Center

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Congratulations to the 4 CPE trainees at Glocal Community Center for competion of their first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. Glocal Community Center is a CPSP-Philippines accredited center headed by Diplomate Supervisor Paul Tabon. It is based in Baguio City with Pines City Doctor’s Hospital as their primary training location. The graduation was hosted by Father Ivo Anselmi at the St. Camillus Novitiate in Baguio City.

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New Training Center

On February 6th, 2019, was the formal opening of the CPE Center at St. Andrews Theological Seminary (SATS). It had opened over a year earlier as a pilot project of CPSP and CPSP-Philippines with Dr. Raymond Lawrence (General Secretary of CPSP) as the supervisor. With the successful completion of that pilot project, SATS officially has an accredited center under CPSP-Philippines (and by Memorandum of Agreement with CPSP). At the ceremony, Dr. Paul Tabon, president of CPSP-Philippines, presided. Dr. Sim Dang-Awan Jr., a diplomate supervisor of CPSP-Philippines also joined, as did Dr. Raymond Lawrence, General Secretary of CPSP.