The Foundations Course in pastoral care, offered over five days (either individually or as a block), presents a Biblical view of humanity, explores different types of psychological disorders, and explains—using examples—how help can be provided.

Curriculum for the Foundations Course in pastoral care:

• Four case studies (depressive mood, compulsions, grief, communication problems in marriage)
• Distinction between counseling, pastoral care, and psychotherapy
• What is the “soul”?
• Three main approaches in psychotherapy (psychodynamic therapy (depth psychology), humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy)
• A biblically oriented anthropology (Genesis 2:7)
• A biblically oriented psychopathology (concept of increasing entropy)
• A biblically oriented approach to counseling, psychotherapy, and pastoral care (soteriogenesis / holistic support)
• A biblical model for practical pastoral care (The Good Samaritan, Luke 10)
• What belongs to self-perception and perception of others?
• Assessment exercises for self- and interpersonal perception
• The visible and invisible reality
• Four aspects of spiritual pastoral care:
  – Forgiving sin (confession)
  – Comforting
  – Admonishing
  – Inspiring hope (prophetic pastoral care)
• Learning and unlearning as ways of psychological change:
  – Conditioning
  – Learning through practice (associations)
  – Learning through insight
  – Learning in groups (model learning, systemic considerations)
• Change through medical and somatic support
• Distinction between psychoses and neuroses
• Practice of diagnostic
• Brief introduction to interpreting the personality structure test
• The BTS group
• Practice of pastoral care and counseling
• Psychohygiene: every pastoral caregiver needs pastoral care themselves