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Emmanuel College’s Psychospiritual Studies Program Triples in a Decade
By Sally Szuster
When Canadians seek mental health support, they often face long waits, costs or stigma. Emmanuel College’s Master in Psychospiritual Studies is helping address these gaps.
“Psychospiritual care is about tending to the whole person,” said Dr. Pamela McCarroll, Acting Principal of Emmanuel College. “It is about integrating clinical and spiritual needs so people can find healing and resilience in all dimensions of life.”
Prof. Nazila Isgandarova, Director of Supervised Psychospiritual Education at Emmanuel, said the program takes a distinctive approach.
“We train students to see psychotherapy as a ‘care of the soul,’” she said. “Hundreds of graduates now offer spiritually integrated psychotherapy in hospitals, prisons, the military, long-term care, faith communities, counselling centres and private practice.
To our knowledge, we are the only program offering streams in Christian, Muslim and Buddhist traditions at the same time.”
Demand for mental health has risen in Canada. Self-rated mental health has declined since 2015, especially among young adults and women. A 2024 Fraser Institute report found Canadians wait nearly six months on average to see a psychiatrist.
“For someone struggling with depression or anxiety, half a year without professional support can mean worsening symptoms or even life-threatening crises,” said McCarroll. “That is why it is so urgent that we train more professionals who can respond now.”
The MPS, formerly the Master of Pastoral Studies, offers an option for a Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, which is recognized by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. It prepares graduates for counselling, psychotherapy, chaplaincy and spiritual care.
Enrolment has tripled in the past decade, according to Andrew Aitchison, admissions advisor and strategic recruiter, and an Emmanuel alumnus.
“This is by far our largest program. Students see this training as not only valuable but necessary.”
Since 2023, MPS students on practicum have provided supervised counselling for undergraduates at Victoria College, also part of Victoria University, in a program called Vic Well.
The need is urgent. Student mental health is one of the most pressing campus issues. Rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and psychotic symptoms have doubled or tripled in 20 years. A 2023 survey found 38 per cent of Ontario students rated their mental health as fair or poor.
For Blair Niblett, a part-time MPS student and full-time professor at Trent University, the MPS program was formative.
“I wanted to study contemplative practice with ancient roots, and the Buddhist stream seemed right,” he said. He valued building relationships: “It felt meaningful to meet student needs as they adjusted to university.”
He says the impact carried into his career: “How I approach conflict negotiation is really different now.”
Michael Burtt, a recent graduate, continues to see students from his Vic Well practicum in his private practice. “I can only understand my faith in the context of engaging with people from other traditions,” he said. “Deep interfaith work could not happen in the same way anywhere else.”
He also found students valued his openness. “One student felt he could discuss things with me that he was not comfortable discussing with his religious leader.”
Hannah Athanasiadis, who is pursuing both a Master of Divinity and the MPS, hopes to become a United Church minister and open a private practice. After earlier work in marketing and coaching, “my passion is spirituality and supporting people with their healing. The interfaith aspect has been very expansive for me.”
Vic Well interns typically support seven to 10 clients a week, committing 15 to 20 hours. They provide counselling, coaching and group sessions. While not regulated psychotherapy, the work includes supportive care, mindfulness and solution-focused techniques.
“Having Emmanuel students serve Victoria undergraduates is a powerful example of learning in action,” McCarroll said. “It prepares them for their vocations and expands access to care for young people who might otherwise wait too long or go without support. We are delighted the Vic Well practicum has been so successful that we expanded it this year.”
What began as a small program now enrolls more students than any other at Emmanuel College. Across Canada, spiritual care and psychotherapy are increasingly recognized as essential to the health-care system.
Emmanuel is shaping the conversation about holistic health.
“Psychospiritual care used to be a hidden gem,” McCarroll said. “Now it is clear this is the future of integrated care, and Emmanuel is proud to lead the way.
Top Photo: Neil Gaikwad
