Length of study matters in helping professions

In my journey with Coram Deo since 2017 (joining as managing director), I’ve come to realise that the true impact of pastoral narrative therapy lies in the depth of its training. So if we are going offer hope sustainably then foundational programmes have their jobs cut out for them.

Why a Longer Program?
I believe that in the helping professions, there’s as much unlearning as there is learning. Coming from my own academic background, I’ve seen that even advanced degrees often leave gaps when it comes to truly understanding and applying pastoral narrative practices. Whether this is in psychology, social work, or theology, these disciplines have larger outcomes in mind that are not only focused on the specific way an individual engages the people in front of them. In studying these disciplines, the time it takes is even much longer than our “long” programme.

In this context, a two-year programme (our Pastoral Narrative Therapy programme) is a focused programme honing in on the required paradigm and the actual practices. This kind of programme is immersive in nature and allows ample time for unlearning and learning within a supportive pastoral narrative community. Here we get to work with our own stories and become witnessing collaborators to the transformation taking place around us.

Can we offer transformative, collaborative practices if we don’t feel comfortable with the ways our learning challenges us to reflect? What purpose is learning if we expect to hear only the things that confirm our own knowledge paradigms and prejudices? And I doubt very much that this can take place in a couple of months if it is a foundational programme.

The Importance of Community:
One of the key aspects of a longer program is the supportive community it fosters. It’s not just about learning theories; it’s about reflecting together, sharing experiences, and truly integrating these approaches into our own lives and communities.

Who Benefits?
Ultimately, our goal is to equip local community members—people who are on the front lines of supporting others—so that they can bring hope and healing to their own neighborhoods. This deep, immersive training ensures that the skills are not just learned but deeply integrated.

So if you ask me about the benefits of a longer programme such as our two-year foundational programme and the reasons why shorter programmes have limited impact:

  1. In-Depth Learning: A two-year duration ensures comprehensive coverage of both theory and practice, allowing for a deeper understanding of the subject matter (bearing in mind that it still would not cover the more encompassing outcomes of formal disciplines like psychology, theology, and social work). The downside is also the upside in that it allows more focus on the actual helping role and personal transformation.
  2. Practical Experience: Extended time frames provide ample opportunities for hands-on practice, initial level supervision, and real-world application.
  3. Community Engagement: Longer programs foster meaningful connections and a supportive community, enhancing the learning experience and personal growth.
  4. Unlearning and Relearning: A two-year duration allows for unlearning outdated methods and adopting more nuanced, holistic approaches, ensuring more effective and personalised care.
  5. Depth of Reflection: The extended timeline supports deeper reflection and integration of learning, leading to more confident and skilled professionals.

My concerns with shorter programmes would be:

  • Limited Depth: Shorter programs often don’t allow for comprehensive exploration of complex concepts, leading to a surface-level understanding.
  • Recipe-Driven tendencies: These programs tend to rely on formulaic methods, which may not be adaptable to individual client needs or complex situations.
  • Lack of Flexibility: With a condensed curriculum, there’s less room for critical thinking and adapting subject matter ideas to unique cases.
  • Insufficient Reflection: Shorter timelines don’t provide enough opportunity for deep reflection or integration of the material into real-world practice and significant unlearning.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, while shorter programs might have their place (proving beneficial for learning specific things or expanding knowledge), I firmly believe that a longer, more comprehensive approach is essential for truly transformative work. It’s about fostering lasting change and building a foundation of hope and well-being in our communities.

EP-Admin
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On December 12, 2025   /   Blog, Uncategorized