Programs
Workshops
Christians face growing challenges in today’s Australia: An increasing tendency towards secularism and moral relativism produces a culture that is at times openly hostile to our faith. We also face the many other modern challenges that ultimately lead to frustration or worse, identity crisis and burn-out. At the end of the day, we are at risk of losing sight of what really matters. With our workshops, we equip Christian leaders who participate in Christ’s action in this world with transformative skills and tools to grow and nurture healthy selves and communities. We seek to learn and to grow together as disciples of Christ, supporting one another and bring God’s love to our communities.
Courses
We believe that a combined theological-psychological perspective on critical issues regarding anthropology, lifestyle, culture and society offers new ways of looking at these concerns and also new solutions. CTP offers novel, accredited inter-disciplinary courses that are tailored for those serving in (or training for) vocational positions in churches , schools, community, missions and para-church contexts. These are fully integrated, accredited degrees, which aim at establishing the theological and practical skills needed in a constantly fluctuating world. The units are team-taught by theologians and psychologists who share a common vision to achieve an integration of these crucial disciplines.
Contact: To inquire about our course offers, please email ctp@mst.edu.au
Courses:
Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health
This unit is designed for Christian professionals and leaders who work in people-focussed jobs and who would like to upskill in the areas of mental health and well-being, and do this within the context of their faith. This unit will be taught by CTP team members and affiliated experts. We hope to teach this course face-to-face (depending on government restrictions) and online. It is available for credit and audit.
Upcoming Units:
Theological Approaches to Wellbeing
SEMESTER 2, 2021
Available for Credit and Audit (Via MST)
This unit seeks to contribute to the development of Christian professionals and leaders by providing a sound theological basis for our understanding of human well-being. Students will develop skills that allow them to apply theological understanding to Christian ministry and service and other professional practice. The unit will expose students to key questions and perspectives related to a theological understanding of human flourishing and well-being. We assess together the contribution of positive psychology from a biblical and theological perspective, always with a view to concrete application in ministry and professional settings. This unit is team-taught by experts from our Centre for Theology and Psychology at MST & Eastern College Australia.
Topics include:
- Human Wellbeing in Old and New Testament
- Theological Reflections on positive theology and wellbeing
- Suffering, Resilience, and Wellbeing
- Flourishing in Ministry
- Discipleship, Virtue and Flourishing
- The Contribution of the Church to Wellbeing
- Spiritual Resilience: Discipline and Wellbeing
- Spiritual Vitality: Formation and Wellbeing
To find out more and to enrol, please get in touch with our enrolment co-ordinator, Iona Kroussoratsky: enrolments@mst.edu.au
Research & Supervision
CTP Research & Supervision naturally inspires and stimulates our activities in the workshop and coaching areas. It aims at fostering cutting-edge inter-disciplinary research to be conducted and published by its members and partners. We produce the regular CTP newsletter that serves as a mouthpiece for CTP policy and opinion. We offer supervision to postgraduate and post-doctoral research students/assistants, and we host an annual Integrative Symposium on the integration of theology and psychology.
Contact: To inquire about our research & supervision offers, please email ctp@mst.edu.au
Research Project:
Redesigning the Assessment Process
for Mission/Ministry Staff
This project redesigns the way mission/ministry staff are screened for employment. It is needed because currently staff are often placed in positions they are ill equipped for or which pose a risk to their well being and mental health. This impacts their ability to stay in their job. They often come home burnt out and broken when things go wrong. This project will come up with a two-way screening process that informs the organisation about what position will fit a staff member and how to equip them to reach their potential. It will facilitate the generation of consistent and useful psychological assessments, and help candidates to become aware of their strengths and weaknesses so they can up skill themselves. This will prevent long term harm to staff, better use scarce resources, and improve staff retention.
In its functions as a centre for academic excellence, CTP focusses on the delivery of workshops, webinars, other courses of study, and research opportunities. At present – and for the foreseeable future – CTP does not, and will not, offer counselling to individuals.
If you wish to connect with a counsellor who engages in practice from a Christian worldview, you might consult the following referral services:
The Christian Counsellors Association of Australia: ccaa.net.au
Careline Connections: carelineconnections.org.au
