We are delighted to welcome Dr. Rebecca R. Kulzer as a speaker for our upcoming National Clinical Training Seminar! A licensed psychologist, Dr. Kulzer serves as Clinical Director and Clinical Professor at Pace University’s McShane Center for Psychological Services. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary and brings extensive experience in pediatric neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and supporting children and families facing complex medical conditions. Her background includes clinical work at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation Center and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, along with a strong commitment to the supervision and training of future psychologists

Embodying the Divine in Pastoral Care: A Person-Centered Approach to Presence, Practice, and Supervision

Carl Rogers’s person-centered approach invites us to consider what becomes possible when we meet another person with empathy, genuineness, congruence, and unconditional positive regard. For chaplains, these qualities offer a way to reflect on how our presence may communicate divine care in the midst of suffering.

This seminar will introduce the core principles of person-centered theory and explore their application in patient care, clinical formation, and supervision. Trainees will consider how to listen and respond more fully to the person before them. Supervisors in training and supervisors will examine how these same principles shape their use of self and their relationships with learners. Discussion and role-play using pastoral care scenarios will give participants opportunities to practice and reflect across their different roles.