DIPLOMA IN PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY & WELLNESS

THE COURSE CONSISTS OF FOUR UNITS:

UNIT 1: Science & Context

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This unit introduces you to the history, culture and science of the relationship between spirituality and medicine. You look at the evidence base, the physiology and the psychology of how spirituality can benefit health. You are supported in developing and clarifying your own language and terms of reference, so that you can communicate effectively with clients and colleagues in multicultural and interdisciplinary environments. You also reflect on how all of this is relevant to your own personal experience of illness and health.

UNIT 2: Person-Centred Spiritual Practice

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In this unit you explore and experience the spiritual practices that benefit health and wellbeing. You are supported in clarifying and implementing the approach that best supports your own daily spiritual health practice. In this way you experience for yourself the benefits and challenges. This all takes place within a group of supportive peers and tutors. From this personal experience and observing the diversity of approaches in your fellow learners, you then explore how best you might support others from diverse cultures and with different learning styles to develop their own spiritual health practice.

UNIT 3: Developing Reflective Practice

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In this unit you learn about the crucial importance of reflective practice for self-care and development. You will explore the different reflective strategies, choose the approach that best suits you and implement a daily practice of careful and honest self-reflection. This is built on a foundation of mindfulness and the compassionate witnessing of your thoughts and feelings. You will study how reflective practice is a crucial element of self-managed healthcare and psychological wellbeing. You will also look at the psychological and mental health challenges that may be linked to spirituality.

UNIT 4: Spiritual Care in Practice

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This unit builds on the knowledge and practice of the other three units, focusing on the actual giving of spiritual care and enabling others to develop their own spiritual health practice. You will be introduced to and required to practice the fundamental skills of whole-body listening and how to facilitate a developmental conversation, one-to-one and in small groups, around the health and wellbeing benefits of spirituality. You will learn how to lead individuals and small groups into meditation. You will also study the psychological challenges that may arise in an enabling relationship and be introduced to the crucial topic of risk and the procedures for assessing and referral.