Biblical Counseling

A study of the process involved in group development, dynamics, counseling, and closure. Leadership styles, elements of cohesion, issues of confidentiality, and various theories of group approaches. Ethics and moral guidelines, as well as analysis of long-term effectiveness from group experiences. There will be a combination of didactic and experiential activities as part of the course.

Students will learn to develop a biblical/theological template for working with marriages and families. Both theory and techniques of a systemic perspective to marriage and family counseling are presented. This course introduces students to the classical and modern therapeutic models for marriage and family counseling.

Students will explore how, through Scripture, our God speaks to our hearts when we encounter trauma and how his light shines into our deepest darkness. Although the effects of trauma are comprehensive, the love of God is greater. It comprehensively engages us. Students will see how God’s love and Scripture equips the Biblical counselor to walk with those who have been broken by trauma and abuse. Students will listen to and read about experts who share their experience working with various types of abuse and trauma.

This course focuses on developing the basic counseling skills that a beginning counselor needs in order to deliver quality counseling services to clients, as well as to most effectively contribute to a counselee’s transformative and meaningful change. Students will gain insight into their own values, reaction patterns and interpersonal styles as important tools In understanding and helping others.

This course will provide students with insights into the physical and spiritual nature of psychological disorders. Students will be better equipped to discuss the value of Scripture, psychology, and psychiatry in the life of believers. The course will examine specific psychological disorders from a scientific and biblical perspective. This course will help students distinguish between problems from brain disorders and sin that is rooted in our heart, while also demonstrating how there is interplay between both. God created everyone as spirit embodied beings in His image. Having greater understanding regarding the nuances of these two factors will provide better compassionate and competent care to those facing complex problems and psychological disorders.