Student Testimonials

My CPE experience made me question many of my long-held beliefs.  My CPE experience alerted me to the unlimited variety of viewpoints people might hold.  My CPE experience completely turned upside down my ideas about what is helpful in a pastoral care situation.  My CPE experience gave me the tools to draw out from people what they really want to say to facilitate finding their own solutions.

I would recommend CPE to anyone who wanted to get to know themselves more and be more compassionate, kind, empathetic towards those in vulnerable situations.  CPE has shown me we have our past to draw on as a gift to others who may also be dealing with trauma.  I have realised through this course that I can show the love of Jesus to those whom we visit.  I have learnt to sit in silence and allow people to express themselves, without feeling a need to be bubbly and bright or the need to fix them and try and make them feel better.  I feel I have come a long way to knowing myself and being comfortable in my own skin - but have a long way to go.

Through my CPE experience, I have gained valuable insights on the importance of actively listening with intent and being a supportive presence for those who need someone to confide in.  I have also learned to embrace my own vulnerability and use it as a gift to connect with others on a deeper level.  Additionally, I have become more aware of the need to set healthy boundaries.

I have found that through the course my pastoral skills sky-rocketed.  Being thrown into the deep end with intetense bedside practical work was balanced out well with a supportive group of peers and supervisor.  Probably the greatest advantage to my own ministry was learning how to pastorally care for people outside my faith tradition:  by ministering to universal human experiences of pain, loss, joy and hope, my ability to speak into and hear about them within my own faith tradition has deepend immensely.  One other main advantage of taking this course has been the fact it has emboldened me in my pastoral identity.  I am now much more confident in entering into difficult situations as well as my ability to connect with fellow humans, wherever in life they may be.

It is overwhelming but a healing journey of love, experience, wisdom and knowledge to finding my authentic self.  I find myself in the midst of others and am aware of my surroundings more, deeply and spiritually.  

I feel it is just right, a moment of relief that I found where I want to be and who I want to become.  The CPE programme has helped me alot to reflect and wonder about my life and how I can support others with my culture, gifts, values and beliefs.

CPE has changed my life, while introducing me to a group of people who have given me inspiration, love, growth and life-long friendship.  My pastoral care has improved dramatically over the course which is attributed to the strong bond the group has formed, the excellent course content and superb instruction and supervision.  I can't recommend this CPE course highly enough.

What a spirit-filled program.

I say this because not only do we focus on how to show love to others but also how to show it to ourselves.  It is a learning to embrace all of who we are in order to see more clearly who others are....to understand what the other is searching for.

If you are brave enough to face yourself honestly, I highly recommend this program.

The CPE Foundational course is one of the most fulfilling courses that I have been included in. It has changed my perpective in areas of my own life and in particular the call of Jesus to "listen if you have ears." Vulnerability, and owning the complete me (warts and all) has been shown to me to be "gold" in the meeting with others as a support to them.  I have realised through the course that aiming at perfection can be thrown in the river.  Not only are we learning reflective listening but also to zone in on our own feelings as a spiritual tool to guide us in supporting others.  The course providese learning in practical application to follow Jesus in non-judgment, non-condemnation, compassion, love and seeing all as a person loved by God regardless of who they are or where they have come from.  For me especially, the "group" setting was integral and a formative necessity for growth throughout the year.  So much so, I can't imagine doing the course without my "peers."

I highly recommend this course for anyone who is interested in learning more about pastorally caring for themselves and others.

The group or team relationship was magnificent and it helped me to learn more about others’ experiences.  The openness and willingness to share our stories and life journeys was so helpful during my CPE training.

The CPE course created the opportunity to face myself honestly first before developing the ability or skills to take care of others.

It helped me realise my potential, get in touch with my feelings, gave me the confidence to better engage in Pastoral Care, it should be a requirement for every ministry agent and helped me build very good relationships.

CPE is the ultimate experience/journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.  I have been invigorated, both professionally and personally by participating in CPE.  I have discovered the therapeutic value of deep listening and just being ‘present’ for the person.  CPE has improved all areas of my life – personally, professionally, pastorally and theologically.  CPE has heightened my awareness of my relationship with God – to value moments of stillness and calm.  I have learnt to love myself more…the ‘me’ that includes all of my broken bits…the ‘me’ who sits at Jesus’ feet in awe of his unfailing love.

CPE is a course that pastors, school chaplains, counsellors, social workers, volunteers, nurses, really anyone in the ‘helping’ industry should do.  The opportunity to evaluate and reflect on one’s practice is fantastic.  The pastoral care skills and awareness I have gained, and can now apply in many areas of my life, will help me enormously in my practice.  The time contribution to the course is significant, however it has been a worthwhile investment for me in my own faith and my ministry.  I will continue to reap the rewards from this for a long time to come.  Thank you for this opportunity.

I began CPE at the same time that I started working as a Pastoral Carer.  This course has been invaluable in helping to shape my practice as I have learnt about pastorally and spiritually caring for a wide variety of patient needs.  It has also been a transformational time in my own personal growth and I would not hesitate to recommend CPE to anyone working in Pastoral Care or Chaplaincy roles.

My CPE journey took me to a place of deep personal reflection which, although challenging, enabled me to tap into personal experience in a way that enriches my pastoral care encounters.  The course enables essential skill development for chaplaincy and congregational ministries.

Whilst CPE is a training program, I personally experienced it as a formation.  It’s a process and experience of being formed from the inside out to be emotionally, practically, reflectively and professionally equipped to companion others in the privileged work as Spiritual Care practitioner.  Although I have worked many years in this arena, I found the CPE training personally and professionally stretching, enlightening and life-giving.

I have heard how tough it is of the CPE course from my religious brothers.  I have thought that they were to make it more serious than it is.  However, when I do the course, I understand how tough it is if you do the full-time course.  At the same time, the course help me a lot to understand others especially those who are struggling in their life.  It also makes me understand more about myself and be humble to listen to others more than judge them.

CPE Training has enabled me to reflect on my pastoral care practice at a deeper emotional level. I also have a greater awareness of the emotions / feelings during pastoral care encounters. I have valued going through this CPE Journey with the members of my group. We have all grown together.

During CPE I felt myself learning and growing every week.  The structure of group work and clinical visiting is very practical and hands on.  CPE takes a lot of work, but is one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done.

The CPE journey is confusing, challenging, thought provoking, difficult, joyful, satisfying, crushing, depressing, hopeful, growing, learning, dawning, empowering, strengthening, relief.

CPE has been a process through which interiority and exteriority interact.  The point of interaction is what I would call human encounter.

CPE gave me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in what it means to truly be present to another person.  The action-reflection-action model is a crucial part of deepening my practice.  The reflection uncovered parts of me I didn’t know were there and led me to healing and integration, magnifying the importance of showing up for others.  I have hated moments, and all of those moments have led to the biggest growth for me personally and in my practice.  As the course ends, I go forward with a sense of peace and wholeness, inspired to continue this important work.