Have you decided to pursue a Clinical Pastoral Education residency but now you are overwhelmed with the application? This article will help you know the purpose of the application and how to demonstrate what educators want to see in the essays of their applicants.
1. Writing Skill and Ability
Clinical pastoral education is graduate-level academic work and educators want students who communicate clearly through writing. CPE includes writing in the form of verbatims, goals, evaluations, and book reviews. Make sure you edit your writing and double-check for typos and grammar. Have a friend or family member read your application and let you know what is not clear or how you could improve your writing.
2. An Understanding of Your Major Life Relationships and Events
Part of the CPE application is an overview of your life. Make sure your life overview is about you. As obvious as it sounds, I have read too many applications that are about the person’s family and not about how the person’s family history has impacted them and led them to where they are today.
Talk about how your family of origin, your most important relationships, jobs, and spirituality has impacted you in the positive or the negative. Do not just give information about your family or life history, but tie it into who you are today. What have been the most important events in your life and how have they impacted you?
3. Ability to articulate your theology and spiritual life
The essay about your spiritual background and development should provide a brief spiritual history. This can include a chronological history of major events and beliefs in your spiritual journey, as well as important people who have invested in you spiritually. Include reflection on how you have grown and changed spiritually.
CPE educators also want to understand from your theological reflection how you view and relate to those who have differing beliefs from you since you will encounter people of all perspectives in your CPE experience. What about your theology and spiritual life causes you to care for others including those who are different from you?
4. Skill of caring for others
Your final essay will be a description of a helping incident. A good helping incident will be when you responded to someone in crisis. This could be when a friend or family member loses a loved one or when a member of your faith community comes to you because they are struggling in a relationship. Include as much of the verbatim conversation as you remember and what you observed about the person you were helping.
Reflection on what you were thinking and why you responded can also help an educator know if you are ready for CPE. A good helping incident does not require you to give advice or “preach”, but should show your ability to listen to someone in crisis and help them process their situation and emotions.
Caleb is an ordained Baptist minister. He has been a healthcare chaplain for 13 years and has visited over 20,000 patients in the hospital over the last 7 years. He is in the process of board certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains. He is currently the senior chaplain responsible for the pastoral care department at two community hospitals in a larger health system.
