Course Syllabus: Intermediate and Advanced Spiritual Counseling

Educational Requirements: No prior courses necessary, but completion of SC-101 recommended for novices.

Goals:  To provide spiritual counselors with the necessary education to practice responsibly, and ability to self promote.

Reading Materials: Click here for the required reading of 102, the most academic portion of this course.  All texts in both segments are available for free on the internet.

Grading Policy:  Point system:  Generally 25 points per assignment, 15 points for quizzes, varying point exams.  Certificates of achievement available.

Optional Equipment:

Whatever tools work for you, such as"

• 1 relatively clear quartz crystal, or a very nice glass, set aside specifically for soul work
• 1 purple amethyst crystal, or a piece of purple stained glass
• eucalyptus or myrrh oil
• 1 large, unscented, white candle, or a battery powered, lighted "mini shrine" of neutral artistry
• a private space, for some assignments
• a set of tarot cards, runes, or other subconscious revealing "readings" tool
• a symbol or small monument of your animal guide, patron saint, or favorite deity
• a very good pen, and nice paper
• your bible or other sacred texts
• a fireside bucket, bowl, or fire lamp, specifically for soul work
• some willing clients
• a pet
• an open mind

These spiritual counseling courses are written with the independent spiritual counselor in mind, but may contain useful information for the conventional psychologist or therapist who is broadening their practice into the spiritual field.  All required reading for this course is available for free on the internet.

Be advised that this course is very long, and has been described as graduate level due to the reading and the concepts students are expected to understand.  The course may take from two to six months to complete.  Do not attempt to rush through it.

Because this course is self paced, you can use the study methods most comfortable for you.  For this reason, required reading links are provided here, for those who prefer to get the reading out of the way first.
 

• The Easy Part - Acquiring the Necessary Conventional Knowledge of Psychology and Anthropology !
• What Psychology is, and its History *+
• Crucial Concepts *+
• Jungian Psychology *+
• Anthropology *+
• The Easy Part II - Acquiring the Necessary Knowledge of Belief Systems and Metaphysics
• Metaphysics, the "Latin" of Spirituality *+
• Belief Systems+
• African*
• Norse*
• Native American*
• Hindu*
• Judaic*
• Modern*
• Post Modern
• The Hard Part - Putting Your Knowledge Into Practice
• Honing Your Skills
• Counseling*
• Trance*
• Psychic/Superdeductive*
• Standard Sensory Extraperception*
• Energy Manipulation*
• Mediation/Confessional*
• Cross Species Mediation*
• Spiritual/Psychological Warriorship*
• Medicine/Alchemy*
• Solitary vs. Team Work*
• Setting Up Your Practice
• Tips to Avoid Burnout
• Creating a Safe Space*
• The Servant's Altar*
• The Servant's Uniform
• Creating a Structure for Sessions*
• Business and Legal Concerns*

Outline:

• Introduction to Advanced Spiritual Counseling (103)

• Your Résumé and History
• Assignment 24 - Write Your Résumé and History - 25 points

• Your Website
• Content Gathering and Development
• Look for Links First!
• Assignment 25 - Compile and Categorize Your Links and Descriptions - 25 points
• Archiving, Just in Case
• Assignment 26 - Archive a "No Frills" Plain Text (.txt or .doc) Version of Spiritual Counseling for Beginners (101) - 25 points

• Writing Your Own Content (Assignments 25 points each)
• Assignment 27 - Write a 500+  Word Essay on Your Spiritual Counseling Method and Its Motivations
• Assignment 28 - Write a One Page History or Analysis of Your Belief System
• Assignment 29 - Write a 500+ Word Essay on Suffering in General, and Solutions
• Assignment 30 - Write a 500+ Word Essay on the Importance of and Techniques for Prayer, Meditation, and/or Quiet Time
• Assignment 31 - Write and/or Collect 20 Positive Affirmations, 1 Sentence Advice, and Important Quotes
• Assignment 32 - Write a 500+ Word Essay on Your Spiritual Leader, Guide, or the Most Influential Person in Shaping Your Faith or Encouraging Your Counseling Practice
• Assignment 33 - Write 10 Frequently Asked Questions and Your Answers
• Assignment 34 - Outline Your Service Policy, Working Hours, and Contact Information

• Hosting Options
• Free vs. Paid Hosting, and Words of Warning
• Perl, PHP, ASP, and Home or Hosted
• Privacy Concerns and Services
• Receiving Donations
• Software and Services
• Ethical Promotion
• Why You Should Also Have an Offline and Snail Mail Option

• Labs
• Lab 01 - Build Your Home Site - 100 points
• Lab 02 - Contribute To an Existing Community - 50 points
• Lab 03 - Get Listed in (the Dreaded) Google - 50 points

• Review of Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Spiritual Counseling
• Individually Assigned Term Paper - .TXT or Word .doc normal margins, 5 pages (not including covers and outline), double spaced, proper spelling, grammar, layout - 200 points
• Launching Sequence
• Student Teacher Chat - 100 points possible - You will be graded on your accessible knowledge of the course material, and your ability to discuss it.

• Class Discussions - 100 points possible - You will get anywhere from 1 to 5 points for each post you make in the class forums.
• Helping Other Students - 150 points possible - You will be given points for helping other students write their essays and build their web sites.