Educational Programs and Assessment Testing are Offered Throughout the Year
Pre-marriage retreats
professional education
education philosophy
Education offered by the Institute is professional, progressive, and personalized to the adult learner’s needs and abilities. Assessment of the student’s current capacity for pastoral care and counseling begins with the initial interview and application, continues with each course or supervision experience, and is repeated at regular intervals as the student progresses toward their goals. Coursework and supervision is designed to leverage personal responsibility and to challenge the student to grow holistically through blended learning experiences. Effective use of self is as important as acquiring core content knowledge consistent with one’s pastoral role. Technical skill and mastery should be accompanied by more transformational changes in self-understanding, the depth of one’s relatedness, and giving shape to each pastoral encounter. All of our students are expected to advocate the ethical standards of pastoral counselors consistent with their religious affiliation and the code of conduct of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
courses and seminars
For more information on professional education programs, please contact Executive Director, Douglas M. Thorpe, at dthorpe@vipcare.org
psychological assessments
History
The Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Inc. has provided psychological assessment of candidates for the ministry since 1971. Currently VIPCare provides approximately 80 assessments a year for a variety of denominational bodies: the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Eastern Virginia, Potomac, Shenandoah, and the Eastern North Carolina Association of the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia and Virginia, the Presbytery of Virginia, and the Virginia Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.)
Purpose
The purpose of the psychological assessment process is to provide psychological consultation for candidates for the ministry and for denominational officials whose responsibility it is to make decisions regarding candidates for the ministry. The psychological assessment is understood to be one aspect of a larger discernment process and its intent is to provide consultation in terms of psychological readiness for ministry.
Process
Upon request, VIPCare sends testing material and instructions to a candidate, who may complete the material remotely under the care of a monitor. Alternatively, the candidate may choose to complete the material in-person at the VIPCare office. The particular configuration of testing material and interpretive criteria are determined in advance by a dialogue between the denomination and VIPCare.
When the candidate has completed the testing material, a VIPCare testing consultant scores the material and prepares an initial assessment. Next, a VIPCare assessment specialist schedules a one-hour interview with the candidate, during which they share the test results with the candidate and dialogue about the matters of interest to refine the assessment further.
After the interview, the assessment specialist revises the assessment accordingly, and VIPCare produces a final report to send to the denomination and the candidate.
The report generally covers the following subjects: background biographical information, personality profile from the testing, self-image, vocational interests from the testing, addendum frmo the candidate, readiness for ministry, concerns, and suggested questions for the denominational interviewing committee. If a denomination desires coverage of other subjects, VIPCare may alter the report accordingly.
The assessment process may take up to 60 days from the time that the candidate returns the completed testing materials to VIPCare.
residency and internships
For more information on internships and/or supervision, please contact Executive Director, Douglas M. Thorpe, at dthorpe@vipcare.org
presentations & workshops
We offer a variety of presentations, such as:
Addiction and Substance Abuse–
Twelve Steps to Freedom
Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and Families
Addiction and Families: A Congregational Substance Abuse Ministry
Substance Abuse Prevention Ministry
Substance Abuse Recovery Assistance Ministry
Depression–
Men Get Depression
Surviving the Storm: Depression in Teens
Family Life–
We’re Not THAT Dysfunctional
When Too Much Is Not Enough: Hoarding
Road Signs for Becoming a Good Man
Five Love Languages of Children
Common Diagnoses in Children
Leadership–
Authentic Leadership
Retreats and Consultations for Church Staff and Boards
Marriage Enrichment–
Baby Proofing Your Marriage
Principles for Making Your Marriage Work
Marriage – Ordained in Heaven but Made on Earth
Masters of Marriage
Spirituality–
How Your Spirituality Affects Your Emotions and Physical Health
Certified Pastoral Counselor Formation (CPC) students meeting in the Goodykoontz-Crutchfield Education Center for the Spring 2015 course, “DM705: Appraisal, Evaluation and Diagnosis". Offering an overview of the field of psychological testing, interest and personality inventories, and projective techniques as applicable to the task of diagnosis, the course focused on understanding psychological tests in general and oneself in light of one’s own test results.