Our Formation Philosophy

 The Elijah Institute provides professional continuing education designed to equip clinicians and care providers to engage the whole person—biological, psychological, social/relational, spiritual, and moral—in clinically responsible, evidence-informed ways.

Rooted in a Catholic understanding of the human person, our courses are accessible across diverse clinical and care settings.

Not Addition — Transformation

Rather than simply adding spirituality onto existing models, our formation is designed to transform how care is understood and delivered.

Participants learn to:

• Integrate spiritual and moral dimensions into clinical practice with clarity and ethical responsibility 
• Strengthen discernment in spiritually integrated interventions 
• Engage both suffering and human flourishing within a whole-person framework 
• Navigate complex cases with greater coherence across domains

Introduction to the integration of psychological science and spiritual understanding within a coherent framework.

Advanced application of spiritually integrated care, including assessment, case conceptualization, and intervention.

Training for leaders and supervisors guiding others in whole-person, integrated care.

Series 1: Foundations of Catholic Christian Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy

Introduction to the empirical, ethical, and theological case for integrating Catholic faith with evidence-based psychotherapy, grounded in the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual-Moral (BPSSM) model.

Series 2: Human and Spiritual Development

Examination of human development across biological, psychological, social, spiritual, and moral dimensions — including faith formation, attachment theory, vocation, and the role of family and community.

Series 3: Catholic Cultural Awareness and Ethics

Building clinical literacy in Catholic theology, sacramental life, diverse spiritual expressions within Catholicism, and multicultural awareness across the universal Church.

Series 4: Optimizing Clinical Decision Making

Evidence-informed frameworks for case conceptualization, treatment planning, spiritual discernment, outcome monitoring, and collaboration with clergy as clinical partners.

Series 5: Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapies and Interventions

An initial practitioner toolkit drawing on Ignatian spirituality, ACT, positive psychology, trauma-informed approaches, parts work, systems theory, and Catholic-integrated treatment for identity, sexuality, and addiction.

Level 2: Clinical Integration (Coming Fall 2026)

Series 6: Deepening the Therapeutic Relationship

Advanced application of alliance-building in spiritually integrated practice, including therapist presence, use of self, repair through challenge, and ethical self-disclosure within a Catholic spiritual anthropology.

Series 7: Assessment and Case Conceptualization

Comprehensive spiritual assessment tools, BPSSM-informed case conceptualization, attachment-based spiritual assessment, contemplative practice matching, and routine outcome monitoring.

Series 8: Interventions in Catholic Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy

A flagship 20-course series spanning cognitive-behavioral and virtue-based methods, forgiveness protocols, contemplative techniques, trauma processing, grief, OCD/scrupulosity, marriage therapy, and vicarious trauma prevention.

Series 9: Addressing Moral and Sacred Moral Injury, Spiritual Abuse

Systematic, evidence-informed assessment and treatment of moral injury, sacred moral injury, and spiritual abuse — including conscience restoration, sacramental reconciliation, resilience-building, and post-traumatic growth.

Series 10: Addictions and Recovery Catholic

Catholic anthropological framework for assessing and treating substance use and behavioral addictions, integrating evidence-based protocols with sacramental theology, 12-step spirituality, and long-term recovery support.

Series 11: Working with Children and Adolescents

Developmentally appropriate, faith-integrated care for young clients, including identity formation, emotional regulation, faith crisis, digital life, and collaboration with families, schools, and parish youth ministry.

Series 12: Ethics, Culture, and Scope of Practice Advanced

Advanced ethical decision-making in Catholic community contexts — dual relationships, role conflicts, informed consent with religious clients, and cultural humility across Catholic diversity.

Series 13: Termination and Outcome Evaluation

Ethical termination planning with attention to spiritual continuity, clergy and spiritual director collaboration beyond therapy, and relapse prevention through contemplative practice.

Our CE programs are designed for:

• Licensed mental health professionals (LPC, LMFT, LCSW, Psychologists) 
• Pre-licensed clinicians and graduate students 
• Chaplains and pastoral care providers 
• School counselors and care coordinators 
• Ministry leaders engaging mental health needs

NBCC: The Elijah Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP  No. 7719. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Elijah Institute is  solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

BCC.ACP: Elijah Institute's continuing education supports the unique vocational and professional demands of chaplaincy. Our courses engage the spiritual, psychological, moral, and relational dimensions of human experience—areas central to compassionate, ethical spiritual care in healthcare, ministry, and community settings. In alignment with BCCI/APC Maintenance of Certification guidelines

Our courses are developed in alignment with:

• Evidence-informed clinical practices 
• Professional ethical standards 
• Competency-based learning objectives 

Each course includes:

• Clearly defined learning objectives 
• Video-based instruction 
• Supporting materials and resources 
• CE credit documentation 

Our courses are delivered through a flexible, asynchronous format:

• On-demand video modules 
• Self-paced learning 
• Integrated assessments 
• Designed for working professionals 

This work is part of a broader ecosystem:

• Formation — Training clinicians 
• Accompanied™ — Care coordination and support 
• Community Integration — Schools, parishes, and ministries 

Together, these efforts advance whole-person healing and human flourishing.