Graduating Student Feature: Meet David

David Gibbons will be completing his four year journey with IPS in just a couple weeks when he graduates with his MA in Pastoral Counseling. Like many of our students, it was a challenge for David to balance life, work and education, but he did it and did it successfully!

“Just take it one day at a time – it will not last forever and every day is a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth. Make the most of the community of peers and the wisdom of the professors,” advised David.

Hometown:
I am originally from Portsmouth, UK and have been living for the past 7 years in Barrington Hills, IL.

What did your studies focus on at IPS?
I have been taking the MA in Pastoral Counseling since 2011, taking all classes on campus except one – The Counseling and Care of Men, which I took online.

What do you want to be doing upon graduation?
I will continue as Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Barrington Hills and work part time as a counselor at a Counseling Center in the Northwest suburbs.

What has been your biggest accomplishment while at IPS?
Taking another step on the path to integration!  Plenty of work to do, but the great gift that IPS offers: its classroom experiences, friendships, learnings, and opportunities to put the class learning into practice has helped make a significant shift in my personal growth journey.

Were there any challenges you had to overcome during your time here?
Juggling full time work, family, classes, internship and commuting has been a significant challenge.

What was your favorite class and why? 
Pastoral Psychodynamic Assessment and Intervention because it provided a rich framework for plotting a client’s current situation as well as needs and some strategies and plans toward healing and wholeness.

Do you have any advice for future students? 
Just take it one day at a time – it will not last forever and every day is a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth. Make the most of the community of peers and the wisdom of the professors.

As a recent graduate, in what way will you go forth to “change the world?”
Hopefully – I’d like to be part of the emergence of spiritual growth and integration into our society to influence and even heal our culture.

 

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