Human Relationships (PhD): Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy

The Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy field is intended to build upon existing competencies in spiritual care and psychotherapy, and related disciplines. In this field, you will undertake advanced studies and training in the theoretical and theological foundations of spiritual care and psychotherapy. You will also have the opportunity to expand your experience with a post-practicum clinical education in the practice of individual, couple and family therapy or spiritual care.

The program elements and courses will support your progress toward the final completion of a PhD dissertation. The student’s dissertation makes a significant contribution to the existing knowledge in the field of spiritual care and psychotherapy.

If you are a graduate student taking a full-time course load, you will automatically receive a bursary of about $600 per term (or $150 per term for students receiving the senior’s tuition rate). The exact amount varies slightly from year to year. There’s no need to apply for this bursary. We award it based on your registration after the last day to add courses for the term. It may take several weeks to appear on your student account, so don’t worry if you don’t see it right away.

In addition to the full-time bursary, annual bursaries to a maximum of $1,500 are available based on financial need (typically applied to accounts in the fall term).

• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent with a minimum average of B+.
• Pastoral Leadership applicants will have three years of demonstrated experience in service or ministry.
• Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy applicants will have three years experience of clinical practice as a Registered Psychotherapist (or equivalent experience).
• Interviews may be requested.

Test dates available:

• January 26, 2023 (Thursday), 5:00 PM EST
• February 21, 2023 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM EST

Please choose one of the above dates even though the second date is after the application deadline.

Application Deadline

Feb. 15 

Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.

Application Checklist

After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration & Information System (LORIS).

An application for admission to our PhD in Human Relationships program must include:

• The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must upload a digital unofficial copy of each transcript (including graduation certificates where applicable) for every postsecondary educational institution (college or university) they have attended, including those at which a degree or diploma was not completed.
• A completed statement of intent.
• A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your master's thesis or a paper written for a graduate course.
• Completed two reference forms. Two academic reference letters are required. If you are no longer a student or have been out of school for a few years, one of the reference letters or both of them could be professional reference letters instead. Please note that the academic referee must be your instructor or supervisor at university and the professional referee must be someone who has supervised you at work or a volunteer position. It cannot be a friend or a relative. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.
• Completion of the CASPer Test. Note: You must take the CASPer Test on a date available to Wilfrid Laurier University applicants.

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.

• registered psychotherapist
• university or college professor
• hospital or high school chaplain
• social service worker
• addictions counsellor
• certified play therapist
• mental health worker