• What is Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy?
• Admission Deadline
• Admission Requirements
• Application Instructions
• Advanced Standing in the DMin Program (for MTh students)
• Program Requirements
• Clinical Work
• Admission to Candidacy
• DMin Research Project/Thesis
• Time Period
• Examination Requirements
• Model Program of Studies

The practice of psychotherapy is the assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a therapeutic relationship based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication.

Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy is a unique form of therapy which uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth. Graduates of this DMin program can proceed to be accredited, clinical psychotherapists with the additional skill set of engaging spiritual resources for emotional and/or relational healing and change.

Drawing on spiritual and religious resources, spiritual care psychotherapists and chaplains assist persons who are struggling with depression, grief, marital and family conflict, substance abuse and other issues. They also work with those persons who are seeking something more from their lives. Listen with your heart and discover the intimate link between spirituality and emotional well-being.

This program will be in line with the membership requirements of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario which is launching in 2013. Several courses are offered in evening and intensive-model formats making this an excellent choice for commuting students.  Waterloo Lutheran Seminary offers the most extensive selection of programs in Spiritual Care, Counselling and Psychotherapy in Canada.

Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by May 1st in order to be considered for September admission.  February 1st is the deadline for priority admissions for Fall term.

Applicants for admission must hold the MDiv degree or the equivalent of such a degree acceptable as a qualifying graduate degree for a post-degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy of the AAMFT, with at least an average of B+.  Computer literacy is expected of all WLS students.

Further admission requirements include adequate ministry experience (normally three years), completion of basic training in Pastoral Counselling Education (PCE), or a minimum of 240 face-to-face clinical hours with clients and 50 hours of individual and/or group supervision.  Applicants will submit both supervisor and self evaluations from any previous CPE/PCE units (if applicable) or verification of these clinical and supervision hours.  Interviews may be requested.

 For more information on application instructions, please click here

Students who have successfully completed TH663D, TH663G, TH663I, TH663K as part of their MTh degree may receive advanced standing in the DMin program for courses, subject to the relinquishing of their MTh degree before receiving the DMin degree.

Course Work
Students will be required to take 9 courses in the following areas of study, in addition to TH780A - DMin Research Project and TH780B - DMin Thesis:

• Theoretical foundations: 5 courses
• Professional ethics: 1 course
• Advanced research course: 1 course
• Theological electives: 2 courses

Students must receive at least a B grade in each course of their program and must complete all course and clinical work with a cumulative Grade Point Average of B+ as well as complete successfully their program as outlined in this calendar to receive their degree.
In addition to completing successfully the academic courses, students must be judged to be capable of assuming the professional responsibilities of spiritual care and counselling. Any student not meeting these requirements may be required by the Principal-Dean of the Seminary to withdraw from the program.

Each student will be required to complete a minimum of 500 hours of counselling under supervision (68 individual and/or 160 group supervision hours), normally over two years and no more than three years, amounting to four Pastoral Counselling Education unit courses. Practicum equivalency for these clinical hours may be negotiated with the program director.

When all course and clinical work is completed with a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of B+, and the DMin Research Project/Thesis proposal has been approved and, if applicable, acceptance of the research proposal by the Ethics Committee, the student will be granted candidacy.

The student will be encouraged to give thought to the choice of a Research Project/Thesis topic from the very beginning of his/her program. This Research Project/Thesis will address an aspect of spiritual care & counselling based on research related to the student’s clinical program or ministry specialty, utilizing theological insight and a relational/systemic orientation as integrating perspectives. This means the Research Project/Thesis has three parts: (1) the research project; (2) a written thesis based on the project; and (3) an oral examination. The Research Project/Thesis shall reflect the student’s ability to think critically and focus clearly on an area of spiritual concern, and utilize research methodology and spiritual resources in such a way that the study constitutes a contribution to the practice of spiritual care & counselling from a social system’s perspective.

The program requires two years, to a maximum of three years, of courses and clinical training, with normally another year for completion of the doctoral Thesis. Following admission to candidacy, students have a maximum of six terms for completion of the Thesis while maintaining continuous registration as per Seminary policy.

During the last year of course and clinical work, normally in the second year, the student forms the DMin Research Project/Thesis Committee consisting of an advisor who will be a full-time faculty member, and two additional members connected with the student’s work, subject to the approval of the Principal-Dean. At least one of these two shall be a certified clinical supervisor in spiritual care & counselling. The Research Project/Thesis Committee will provide critical reflection and evaluation of the DMin Research Project research and the preparation of the thesis.


When the thesis has been completed and the candidate’s Research Project/Thesis Committee recommends it for submission, an Evaluation Committee is formed by the Principal-Dean consisting of the Principal-Dean of the Seminary, the Director of the Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy Program, the advisor and another member of the Research Project/Thesis Committee. In addition the Principal-Dean appoints an external examiner who agrees to read the thesis, to submit a written evaluation at least 10 working days prior to the proposed examination date, and to attend the oral examination. The Wilfrid Laurier University Dean of Graduate Studies or designate will be a member of the Evaluation Committee.

If the Evaluation Committee recommends proceeding, the examination will take place on the proposed date. The oral examination must result in one of four decisions:

   1. Accepted—The candidate passes with no conditions, except for typographical and/or minor editorial changes.

   2. Accepted with Conditions—The candidate passes with minor revisions required.

   3. Decision Deferred—The decision of acceptance is deferred on account of the need for major revisions which requires the same Committee (insofar as possible) to reconvene at a later time to examine the revised thesis.

   4. Rejected—The thesis is rejected and the candidate will be required to withdraw from the DMin program.

Thesis Style, Procedures for Submitting the Thesis, and Copy Requirements
For style requirements the student needs to consult the guidelines established by Wilfrid Laurier University and Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. The thesis should follow the standards set out in Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fourth Edition (Washington: American Psychological Association, 1994).

Students should consult the Seminary’s “Guidelines for DMin Research Project/Thesis” for specific details concerning procedures and requirements.