The Residency Program of the Pastoral Counseling and Education Center (PCEC) is a post graduate clinical training program designed for those who have a temporary state license in a counseling discipline. The program offers an opportunity to see clients (individuals, couples, families), receive weekly individual, small group, and collaborative team supervision, as well as an opportunity to integrate theology/spirituality with therapeutic theory and skills.

Participants in the Residency Program are expected to spend full-time at the Center to complete their required clinical and supervisory hours for licensure.  They are also expected to use audio/video tapes in their weekly individual supervision and participate in small group supervision and collaborative team therapy/supervision.  There is an hourly fee for the individual supervision.

Our staff supervisors are board approved for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Social Workers, as well as being supervisors with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and the Association for Play Therapy. PCEC is accredited by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the Samaritan Institute. It is also a certified "Play Therapy Continuing Education Provider" certified by the International Association for Play Therapy and a continuing education provider approved by the boards of Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists in Texas.

During the Residency Program interns will go through a written and oral evaluation process with their individual, small group, and collaborative team supervisors, as well as the Director of Training at the end of each year.

Our philosophy at the Pastoral Counseling and Education Center is to integrate spirituality and theology with psycho systemic theory as we work with individuals, couples, and families. We are delighted to share our expertise with persons desiring a pastoral counseling setting in which to see clients and to broaden their knowledge of spirituality and the counseling disciplines.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 about the
RESIDENCY PROGRAM

1.  Does the resident get paid?  How much?  Benefits?  How often paid?
Answer:  Residents are paid monthly a percentage of the collected adjusted fees of their clients.  The Center provides practice liability insurance.  There are no other paid benefits.

2.  How much time is required each week?
Answer:  A resident is expected to work 40+ hours a week, including some evenings and/or Saturday morning times.

3.  Can a resident work full-time elsewhere?  Part-time?
Answer:  It is not possible for a resident to work full-time elsewhere.  Outside part-time evenings and/or weekend employment may be possible.

4.  When in the year do residencies begin?  End?
Answer:  Residencies are contingent on the Center's clinical caseload.  Residencies begin whenever the resident is accepted and a supervisor is assigned.  Residents are expected to complete their required hours within their accreditation and/or licensing body's requirements.  There is an annual evaluation of each intern to determine if they will continue in the program.

5.  What kind of supervision does the Center provide?
Answer:  We provide weekly individual, small group, and collaborative supervision (team supervision behind a one-way mirror).  We have supervisors for LPC, LMFT, LCSW, AAPC, AAMFT, and APT.

6.  Are there any charges to the resident?
Answer:  The resident is charged a weekly individual supervision fee.

7.  Can a resident work in a satellite office?
Answer:  For liability oversight reasons residents work at the main office on Lemmon Ave.  After the first year it may be possible for a resident to work in a satellite office.

8.  How does a resident get clients?  Typical client load?
Answer:  Residents receive intakes through the Center and they are expected to generate referrals themselves.  Marketing is part of our training.  The goal is to eventually build to 30 client hours a week.

9.  Is there a Center theoretical orientation?
Answer:  No.  Our theraptists work from well recognized psycho-systemic models of individual, couple, family, play, and group therapy.

10.  How are faith/spiritual issues integrated with counseling theory?
Answer:  Our Center is committed to the healing of mind, body, spirit and community.  Our therapists are committed to understanding and respecting various religious perspectives and if appropriate for the client, integrate these faith/spiritual views into the therapeutic process.   Through our weekly training programs we are committed to the ongoing professional integration of psychotherapy and spirituality.  The Center is accredited by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the Samaritan Institute (see these links).

11.  Does the Center adhere to a particular faith perspective?
Answer:  The Center's faith history is grounded in an inclusive Judeo-Christian tradition.  The Center was started in 1968 by the Greater Dallas Community of Churches.  Our staff comes from various religious traditions.  We see clients from all or no faith traditions.

12.  Should residents have formal theological training?
Answer:  Some of our residents do have formal theological training but most do not.  Those who do have formal theological training must also qualify for state licensure or professional certification.  We do expect residents to have a faith community connection.  We want residents who are "respectfully curious" about faith/spiritual issues.