Christian Counseling

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:

• Understanding personal motivations and goals for providing Christian counseling.
• Examining personality development from a lifespan perspective.
• Defining key concepts and terms related to the major theories of therapy.
• Identifying and exploring the major concepts of psychoanalytic therapy in relation to Christian counseling.
• Examining the usefulness of existential therapy as it applies to the helping relationship.
• Defining and describing the advantages of person centered therapy as it pertains to ministerial counseling.
• Evaluating the use of behavioral therapy and its application to Christian counseling.
• Analyzing and applying the concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy in relation to individuals, couples, and families.
• Discussing the strengths and usefulness of reality therapy in a pastoral counseling context.
• Summarizing the contributions and clinical applications of post-modern approaches to Christian counseling.
• Exploring the therapy terms and application of family systems to congregational families and the church as a larger human system.
• Evaluating major theories of counseling and integrating them into a personal model of Christian counseling.
• Applying one’s personal model of Christian Counseling to a given case.
• Demonstrating an understanding of ethical and legal issues related to the practice of Christian counseling.
• Understanding the effects of the counselor’s personal beliefs and values on the therapeutic process.