Clinical pastoral education | veterans affairs

Out of an intense involvement with persons in need and the feedback from peers, staff chaplain mentors and ACPE Certified Educators, students develop a new awareness of themselves as persons

and of the needs for whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, students gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process

of helping persons, students develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.  CPE is designed for people at various stages of life, for example, clergy seeking to

develop their skills as pastoral caregivers, military chaplains seeking specialized training in the hospital setting, and seminarians or lay people preparing for ordained ministry. Learn

more about Clinical Pastoral Education. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The San Diego VA-DoD CPE program accepts civilian students to the VA San Diego, who rotate to different clinics and services

throughout the year. The VA residents and interns rotate to various services and clinics throughout the San Diego area, where clinical opportunities and on-site supervision are available to

enhance the learning experience. Students in the program are considered part of the team and attend interdisciplinary team meetings on the unit where they are assigned. They work with staff

chaplains who cosign their notes and offer clinical guidance and consultation. Services that the CPE students typically serve include:  Spinal Cord Injury, Psychiatry, the Substance Abuse

and Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARTP), Medical/Surgical, Ambulatory Surgery, the Community Living Center, Palliative Care, ICU, DOU (Direct Observation Unit), Emergency. Chaplain

students also provide spirituality groups and individual counseling for veterans recovering from PTSD in the Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOC’s) at Kearny Mesa and the ASPIRE

treatment program for homeless Veterans. CPE PROGRAM - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS For more information about CPE program, please refer to