Clinical Pastoral Education

Welcome to Saint Raphael’s Clinical Pastoral Education program. An important component of the pastoral care department is providing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training to theological students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders and qualified lay people. This interfaith program integrates training in a clinical setting with seminar, group process, and one-on-one work with an accredited supervisor. Consequently, CPE trainees actively serve people in crisis while strengthening their personal, professional and theological capacities through reflecting upon, understanding, and growing from the lived experience of ministry. Intensive interaction with peers, staff, seminar leaders, and the supervisor helps trainees to develop new awareness of themselves as persons and professional pastoral caregivers and to develop a greater understanding of the needs of patients and their families. The CPE program offers two (2) different options: 1.  Summer CPE Program 2.  Residency CPE Program   Faculty The faculty includes members of our Pastoral Care department, an ACPE certified supervisor, as well as specialists from inside and outside the hospital. (Specialists are experts on topics discussed at didactic presentations. Medical, psychological, ethical and theological issues are examined.) The program has an interfaith focus. The current members of our faculty are from various faith groups, including Catholic, Episcopalian, Jewish, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian. Also, the ministry to patients and families is supported by internal and external adjuncts representing many different faith traditions. The Hospital and Ministry The Hospital of Saint Raphael (HSR) is a 511-bed academic health care center affiliated with Yale School of Medicine, founded in 1907 and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Our program offers pastoral care experience in the following areas: