Goodwin Living Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE Program)
As a faith-based not for profit, Goodwin Living is committed committed to the education and formation of spiritual care practitioners from diverse religious and spiritual traditions. Our Clinical Pastoral Education program provides supervised, experiential learning in spiritual care with particular depth in aging, dementia care, hospice, family care and interdisciplinary practice.
We are one of only seven senior communities nationwide that offer Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
The CPE program trains leaders from different faiths in pastoral ministry and chaplaincy. As the only program of its kind in Northern Virginia, we proudly serve as a hub for professional spiritual care in the region.
A ministry powered by purpose
Goodwin Living chaplains mentor students in spiritual care. This allows them to benefit from the rare opportunity to develop relationships with older adults and their families, as well as our diverse team members. Students refine their skills in providing spiritual support with visits in hospice, palliative care, hospital and home contexts.
Students engage in ministry at a variety of clinical placement sites, including Goodwin Living Life Plan communities and Goodwin Hospice. In these placements, students encounter the spiritual dimensions of aging, loss, transition, illness, meaning-making, family relationships, end-of-life care and community life. These settings allow students to develop sustained relationships while learning to practice spiritual care within interdisciplinary teams. More than 1,000 residents and over 1,450+ team members from a wide range of cultural and faith backgrounds interact at our campuses, making them ideal settings to teach and practice pastoral skills.
Clinical placements are determined according to the structure and learning goals of each CPE unit. Students are assigned within Goodwin Living communities, or other approved clinical settings where applicable.
