West 5th Campus
100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON L9C 0E3
St. Joseph’s Health System is an accredited teaching facility with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care / Association Canadienne de soins spirituels (CASC/ACSS). All Supervisor-Educators are current members of CASC /ACSS and have SPE Program approval via the Accreditation Committee. The education centre is located at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Charlton site located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario at 50 Charlton Ave South.
St Joseph’s Health System
St. Joseph’s Health System is a group of organizations each offering services according to their strengths and inspired by a common mission and vision to provide high quality compassionate care. This system provides a variety of support, including acute care, longterm care, community care, to rehabilitation, hospice, community outreach, and mental health. St. Jospeh’s Health System includes, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (which includes St. Joseph’s Hospital, at 50 Charlton Ave South and the Margaret and Charles Juravinski Centre for Integrated Healthcare at 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton), King Street Campus for Amblutory Health Services), St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph, St. Joseph’s Home Care, St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre in Brantford, which include Stedman Community Hospice and St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas. The Spiritual Care Education Centre is located at St. Joseph’s Hospital in downtown Hamilton.
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is a teaching medical facility with approximately 800 inpatients, affiliated with the Health Sciences Faculty at McMaster University and Mohawk College. As a leading academic health science and research centre, SJHH delivers high-quality, evidence-based care to patients in Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant and beyond. Home to more than 4,000 staff, 700 physicians and 600 volunteers, St. Joe’s is a multi-site, regional, tertiary centre, renowned for its strength in respiratory care, kidney and urinary care, mental health and addictions, surgical services, cancer surgery and women’s and infants’ care. For over 125 years St. Joseph's has cared for the community in a spirit of compassion, innovation, and commitment – driven by the legacy of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton.
What CPE programs are currently offered within St. Joseph’s Health System?
Twelve-Month Residency Program, September 8, 2025 – August 29, 2026
Intensive CPE Units
Please review the course section for more information
Prerequisites of the Residency Program at St. Joseph’s Health System
The residency is primarily for those interested in pursuing the designation of Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner in the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/ Association Canadienne de soins spirituels (CASC/ACSS) or in functioning at an advanced level in Spiritual Care ministry.
Prerequisites are:
Completion of at least one year of a graduate theological degree program or equivalent already approved by CASC Academic Assessment Committee
Endorsement by a faith group or spiritual community
Candidates who have completed a Unit of SPE, either CPE or PCE are preferred
MANDATORY REQUIREMENT FOR ALL PROGRAM APPLICANTS:
Current enrollment in a related Master’s Level Program or able to be enrolled in Martin Luther University College’s Graduate Level Education, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Diploma and qualified to register for a CPE course.
It is also imperative that prospective residents ensure that they have the course distribution requirements to obtain admission to Advanced education prior to the second unit of the residency program. This may require you to have more than first year basic courses of your theological degree.
Who may apply for Clinical Psychospiritual Education (CPE)?
CPE is available to:
· those desiring to become Certified Spiritual Care Practitioners or Certified Psycho-Spiritual Therapists
· psychotherapy students interested in spirituality
· theological students
· ordained clergy
· community members committed to personal and professional growth who are eligible for enrollment in Master’s level education as outlined above.
All programs are interfaith/spiritual and open to those who have a commitment to personal and professional growth. The ability to articulate one’s educational and vocational goals and to effectively use individual and group supervision is also crucial. Applicants are selected via a process that includes letters of reference and an interview.
International Applicants
Out of country applicants to the residency must ensure there are no restrictions on their permit regarding application and enrollment in courses with an academic/educational institution. As well, the permit must not restrict the ability to work in healthcare. Either restriction will necessarily disqualify the prospective resident from acceptance into the residency. Since our programs are registered through Martin Luther University College, please see the fees schedule for international students to ensure you are fully informed prior to applying.
Tuition
· Tuition is paid directly to the University. Each CPE unit will be registered as 2 half credits.
· The Spiritual Care Department will reimburse the resident, as well as the single-unit Learner engaging in an intensive or extended unit of SPE, for the following:
· External non-course related educational activities and associated costs, if required by the SPE program at St. Joseph’s Health System, i.e., conference registrations, regional CASC/ACSS meetings, etc.
How to apply for a CPE Program offered at St. Joseph’s Health System
Please contact the teaching supervisors for the application.
Danielle Slump, M.T.S., RP- Certified Spiritual Care Supervisor-Educator
Danielle Slump, M.T.S., RP- Certified Spiritual Care Supervisor-Educator and Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner- Telephone: 905-522-1155 x32857 dslump@stjosham.on.ca
Klara Siber-Simic, M.Div, MHSc, RP – Provisional Spiritual Care Supervisor-
Klara Siber-Simic, M.Div, MHSc, RP – Provisional Spiritual Care Supervisor-Educator and Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner - Telephone: 905-522-1155 x35118 ksibersimic@stjoes.ca