cpe
As Robin alluded to on her blog, I’m doing a full-time year-long Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency this year. It’s a rather intense way to fulfill my field education requirement for seminary, but it’s also makes room for deep learning about my personal pastoral ministry and presence.
CPE is a nationally accredited program. Each unit lasts about 3 months, so I’ll be doing 4 units over the course of a whole year. It’s both scary and a wonderful growing opportunity because a lot of the curriculum involves giving and receiving direct and honest feedback about my personal presence and interpersonal relating. In other words, my fellow residents and the supervisor(s) are up front with what they think about me and the work I’m doing, and I’m expected to do the same for them. Ever wanted to know deep down what other people really think of you and notice about you? This is the place to learn.
If the advantage of being a resident is the learning opportunity, the disadvantage is they work you to near death for a pretty meager stipend. I’m really just happy to be getting paid, but at the end of 60-80 hour week (plus commuting back and forth to SF every day), I’m just plain tired. It’s a quick way to learn how to prioritize what renews and energizes me.
The hospital I’m working at is St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. It’s interesting for a couple of reasons. First, although it’s part of Catholic Healthcare West, it’s historically a community hospital that was later adopted into the Catholic healthcare system, so it has a mixed history. Second, it’s smack in between the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich in San Francisco (the Tenderloin and Knob Hill). Chinatown is right next door too. The hospital’s patient population approximately reflects these populations pretty evenly. For doing chaplaincy work, I don’t think there could be a more dynamic place.
Grant :: Oct.08.2007 :: CPE, life update :: 3 Comments »
I’m so proud of you for the work that you are doing at the hospital. (both for the patients and for yourself). I know that both of us having full time jobs this year has added extra stress, but we’re working through it! The time apart makes our time together that much more special! As an extra bonus, I’m happy that you’re getting paid too. I love you!
Thanks for the update on your new job. We are very proud of you and the work you are doing. Can’t wait to hear more about it!!!
Grant, you are really brave to take on a workshop like that. It can be scary to get honest, not-always-pleasant feedback, but it really does make you think about how to improve yourself, maybe even in a way you hadn’t thought of before. But I have no doubt that you’ll do really well.
Good luck!
P.S. I really like the grass pictures–one of these days Glen, me, and a computer will all be in the same place, and I can show them to him too!