Interested in a career in counselling? Starting this fall, prospective students with a background in psychology (a minimum of four undergraduate psychology courses) can choose between two counselling programs at Tyndale, depending on their goals and interest.
The first cohort of the new Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Counselling program begins this September. This program is recognized by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and is designed for students who are more interested in working with individuals and families in public or secular practices than in a congregational ministry setting.
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) Counselling program, which is also CRPO recognized, is Tyndale’s largest program and has grown steadily for more than a decade. It offers pathways into public or secular practices and is focused on providing opportunities in clinical counselling settings within or outside of ecclesial or Church communities.
“There is significant overlap between the MA and MDiv counselling programs,” says Dr. Arnold Neufeldt-Fast, VP Academic and Dean, Tyndale Seminary. “The primary distinction is that students in the MA program will be required to complete the ‘Research Thesis in Counselling and Psychotherapy’ course, which develops and hones skills for applied research and also benefits those who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in counselling.”
In both programs, students will develop breadth of knowledge and critical understanding of the theological and psychological frameworks of human personhood and also acquire capacities for understanding and engaging the cultural, social and global contexts of God’s mission in the world. Students will experience personal and professional growth as well through a process of intellectual and spiritual formation.
“Graduating students consistently report that their experience at Tyndale has broadened their self-understanding and increased their sense of self-differentiation and emotional intelligence,” says Dr. Susan Ellfeldt, Associate Professor of Counselling. “Most report that the theological aspects of their studies have lent balance to their psychology studies and that they feel better prepared, both spiritually and cognitively, for their career path ahead.”
Tyndale’s counselling programs offer clinical field training and preparation through a full-year Skills Lab course, where students not only learn and practise the core skills of psychotherapy within a peer setting, but also have direct client interaction and supervision through an internship placement, which meets the clinical experience standard of the CRPO.
“We are so pleased that the MA in Clinical Counselling program will provide students with another pathway to achieving their goals, and we are here to support students in any way we can,” says Dr. Neufeldt-Fast. “Tyndale already has a strong reputation because of the quality of our graduates; the MA will be another door opener in their toolkit.”