Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
On Becoming a Professional Spiritual Care Provider
PIEC is an accredited learning center providing CPE and Clinical Supervisory Education. We offer multi-faith and inter-spiritual CPE learning programs which prepare individuals to offer informed, compassionate and client-centered spiritual care in a wide diversity of settings. Individuals who complete CPE programs with the Pacific Institute for Essential Conversations become seasoned professionals who foster deep and meaningful relationships with their clients. Relationships which heal and transform lives because they grow out the shared 'heart to heart' experience of being human.
PIEC offers CPE programs in institutional locations as well as community-based settings. Our programs are conducted by our team of Supervisory Education Fellows (SEFs) and supervised by PIEC Clinical Supervisors.
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What is Clinical Pastoral Education
(CPE)
CPE prepares individuals for certification as professional clinical chaplains. It is a rigorous crucible composed of clinical experience at the bedside, small group work on: case conferences, didactic sessions, theological reflections, Interpersonal Relations Seminars and one to one supervision. The primary tool for CPE learning is the case conference where a learner provides a detailed verbatim and analysis of an encounter with a patient. The case is presented to the training group where the learner receives feedback, insight, critique and support for his or her work from peers and the supervisor. The goal for CPE training is for the Chaplain’s own Self to become the primary tool for engaging the patient. This concept of the ‘use of self’ is fundamental in the helping professions. Thus the training of chaplains is focused not on religion, theology and belief systems but rather upon the integration and self-awareness of one’s own life experience, spirituality, and knowledge of psychology, sociology, and thanatology. The fundamental skill in clinical chaplaincy is the agility and art of meeting and dwelling with each patient in our common humanity: sorrow, joy, loss, existential uncertainty, regret, despair and meaning. It is only by being a companion with a patient’s experience that the trust is established for the chaplain to be of genuine service.
Current CPE Opportunities with PIEC