---
title: "C8104 Sacred Hospitality: the dia-Logos of Pastoral Counselling · St Cyril’s"
url: https://stcyrils.edu.au/units/c8104-sacred-hospitality-the-dia-logos-of-pastoral-counselling
description: "This graduate course unit aims to provide an introduction to pastoral counselling within the Christian context. In particular, students will be introduced…"
---

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C8104

# Sacred Hospitality: the dia-Logos of Pastoral Counselling

Code

C8104

Level

Postgraduate

Weighting

9 credit points

Discipline

Counselling

Mode

Campus intensive

Lecturer

[Rev. Professor Stephen Muse](https://stcyrils.edu.au/faculty/stephen-muse)

On this page

1. [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
2. [Exclusions](#exclusions)
3. [Academic Staff](#academic-staff)
4. [Curriculum Objectives](#curriculum-objectives)
5. [Learning Outcomes](#learning-outcomes)
6. [Content](#content)
7. [Assessments](#assessments)

Last offered in **Semester 2, 2026**. See the [timetable and key dates](https://stcyrils.edu.au/timetable) for dates, or [enrol online](https://stcyrils.edu.au/enrol) when enrolments open.

## Prerequisites

Nil

## Exclusions

Nil

## Academic Staff

**Rev. Prof. Stephen Muse,** Clinical Professor Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science and Bioethics and Medical Humanities at Mercer University School of Medicine; BA (Philosophy) Davidson College, MDiv (Princeton Theological Seminary), MS, PhD (Counselling Psychology, Pastoral) Loyola College of Maryland, LMFT (University of Georgia)

## Curriculum Objectives

This graduate course unit aims to provide an introduction to pastoral counselling within the Christian context. In particular, students will be introduced to the theological basis for the task of Christian counselling as multidimensional ‘trialogue’, engaging the fullness of the human person.

## Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate key theological and psychological perspectives relevant to pastoral counselling and healing relationships
2. Critically analyse the role of spiritual formation practices, such as stillness, prayer, watchfulness, worship, and repentance, in healing relationships and pastoral counselling contexts
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify and critically reflect on the interrelationship between spiritual and clinical dimensions of presenting concerns
4. Demonstrate the ability to critically reflect on therapist self-care and ethical boundaries within pastoral counselling contexts
5. Apply theological and counselling perspectives to pastoral counselling practice in a manner informed by Christian theological understandings of personhood and healing

## Content

1. The ‘dia-logos’ of pastoral counselling
2. What makes counselling ‘pastoral’
3. The epistemology of personal encounter
4. Christian counselling as ‘trialogue’.
5. The ‘light burden’ of caregiving.

## Assessments

1. Assess the impact of the interface between theology and counselling
2. Present a coherent understanding of the relational dimension of the counselling in light of Christological doctrine
3. Apply your understanding of Christian counselling within a pastoral scenario

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