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Biblical Counselor Program

∙ Program Objectives         ∙  Course Outlines    
∙  Partial Textbook List      ∙  Course Requirements

This 12-Module program  of courses and practices will develop students in the field Biblical counseling. At its core, Biblical counseling parallels personal discipleship and spiritual formation in that it is transformation of the heart and mind, as well as restoration of the soul. This is a hands-on program, not simply book-learning and theory.

Courses may be taken independent of the certification track.

While the order these modules are completed in does not have to be in any specific order, as you go through the following information, it will be obvious that one or another module will need to be completed prior to taking others. Guidance with scheduling is available free of charge.

Those who successfully complete this program will be equipped to support the pastoral counseling ministry in most churches and qualify for certification as Journey To Freedom  Group Leaders and Mending the Soul  Group Mentors through Truth in Love Ministries.

Graduates will qualify to become Certified Biblical Counselors through the International Association of Biblical Counselors.

In this program of courses, students will be involved in studying matters such as:

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Course Outlines
Module 1    Module 2    Module 3    Module 4   Module 5    Module 6    Module 7    Module 8   Module 9    Module 10  Module 11   Module 12
 
Module 1 (12 Weeks)

Foundations of Biblical Counseling

Session One: Introduction; Basic Theories; Assumptions

Session Two: Views on Integration; Basic Biblical Model

Session Three: History of Psychology (Part 1)

Session Four: History of Psychology (Part 2); Pioneers of Modern Psychology

Session Five: Modern Modalities; The Biblical Model & Galatians 1-2

Session Six: Interviewing and the Counseling Process (Part 1);  Processes of Change

Session Seven: The Counseling Process (Part 2)

Session Eight: Anger & Depression (Fear & Worry)

Session Nine: Sexuality, Abuse and Neglect

Session Ten: Addiction, Reality Therapy, and 12-Step Programs

Session Eleven: Biblical Counseling and Common Grace

Session Twelve: 1 Thessalonians 5 and Counseling

(View the Syllabus here)

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Module 2 (10 Weeks)

Methods of Change

Session One: Introduction; Basic Theories

Session Two: Partnered With the Holy Spirit; Basic Biblical Model

Session Three: The Role of Worship in Counseling; Discussion on Idolatry
Session Four: The Counselor as Ambassador; Love, Know, Speak, Do
Session Five-LOVE: Redemptive Relationships and Counseling; Courageous Listening
Session Six-KNOW: Interviewing and Data Gathering; The Counseling Process (Part 1)
Session Seven-SPEAK, Part 1: The Counseling Process (Part 2)

Session Eight-SPEAK, Part 2: Responsibility and Accountability

Session Nine-DO, Part 1: Effecting Biblical Change

Session Ten-DO, Part 2: Homework and Accountability

(View the Syllabus here)

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Module 3 (15 Weeks)

"Mending the Soul" Curriculum

Session One:  Introduction; Counseling Survivors

Session Two: The Extent and Power of Abuse

Session Three: Abuse as a Perversion of the Imago Dei

Session Four: Profiles of Abusers

Session Five: Warning Signs of Potential Abusers

Session Six: Portrait of an Abusive Family

Session Seven: Shame

Session Eight: Powerlessness and Deadness

Session Nine: Isolation

Session Ten: Facing the Brokenness

Session Eleven: Rebuilding Intimacy with God

Session Twelve: Forgiveness

Session Thirteen: Group Facilitation; Dealing With Special Circumstances; Self- and After-Care

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Module 4 (8 Weeks) (More Info)

Hermeneutics: The Art & Science of Biblical Interpretation

Biblical Counseling is the Christ-centered, Bible-based, Holy Spirit empowered, practical and therapeutic [restorative] application of properly interpreted Biblical truths to a person's life through nurture, instruction, correction, and prayer, with the goal of personal maturity and fruitfulness.

This course integrates both general and specific principles of biblical interpretation and the inductive method of Bible study, with the primary emphasis being on the grammatical-historical-literary method of interpretation. The course will provide the student with a complete methodology that can be used to study any book of the Bible.

Prerequisite: None

 
Course Outline

Session One: The Search For Meaning; Study Tools and Their Use

Session Two: Exegetical Fallacies (Using and Abusing Language)

Session Three: Understanding the Text: Meaning in Literary Genres—Part 1 (Narrative, Poetry & Wisdom)

Session Four: Understanding the Text: Meaning in Literary Genres—Part 2 (Gospel & Epistles)

Session Five: Understanding the Text: Meaning in Literary Genres—Part 3 (Prophecy)

Session Six: Responding to the Text: Meaning and Application

Session Seven: Survey of the History of Interpretation/ Contemporary Influences on and Approaches to Biblical Interpretation

Session Eight: Further Challenges/Tying it All Together

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Module 5 (12 Weeks)

"Journey To Freedom" Curriculum

Session One-A: Introduction, Objectives, and Basic Principles

    Session One-B: The Foundation

Session Two-A: Looking Inward

    Session Two-B: God's Faithfulness; Our Assurance

Session Three-A: Emotions and a Sound Mind

    Session Three-B: The Bridge

Session Four-A: Renewing the Mind

    Session Four-B: Blame and Responsibility

Session Five-A: Problem Solving

    Session Five-B: What is Smart and What is Not

Session Six-A: Relationship Inventory

    Session Six-B: Bitterness and Self-Destruction

Session Seven-A: Processing Anger

    Session Seven-B: Worth and Value

Session Eight-A: What About God's Will?

    Session Eight-B: Avoiding Emotional Burn-out

Session Nine-A: Sabotage

    Session Nine-B: The Next Step

Session Ten: "Live" Group Participation

Session Eleven: Training Mentors

Session Twelve: Final and Debrief

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Module 6 (10 Weeks)

Humanity & Sin: Developing a Biblical Anthropology

Session 1 - Introduction and Why did God Create Man?
Session 2 - What is man? Monism and Trichotomy
Session 3 - What is man? Dichotomy, Conditional Unity, and Gnostic Dualism
Session 4 - The When, What, and How of the Human Soul
Session 5 - How Are People in the "Image of God?"
Session 6 - What Happened at the Fall? Pelagianism and Augustinianism
Session 7 - What Happened at the Fall? Arminianism
Session 8 - Free Will: Is There Such a Thing?
Session 9 - The Sex of Man: Egalitarianism
Session 10 - The Sex of Man: Complementarianism

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Module 7 (12 Weeks)

Marriage and Family Counseling

(In Modification)

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Module 8 (12 Weeks)

Addiction and Recovery Models

Session One: The Power of Worldviews on Addiction Counseling

Session Two: Defining Terms: Words Matter / The Addiction Cycle

Session Three:  Addiction and the Brain

Session Four: Addiction and the Body

Session Five: Chemical Dependency

Session Six: Behavioral Dependency

Session Seven: The 12-Steps and Their Variants, Then & Now

Session Eight: Recovery Models - Part 1

Session Nine: Recovery Models - Part 2

Session Ten: Antitheticals and Common Grace

Session Eleven: Let's Talk About "Relapse"

Session Twelve: Long-Term Outcomes

 

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Module 9 (12 Weeks)

Crisis & Trauma Counseling

Session One: Fear, Worry & The God of Rest

Session Two: The Good & Bad of Stress

Session Three: Stress Management & Stress Reduction

Session Four: Growing Up Scared - Lifelong Trauma

Session Five: Phobias - Gripping Fears 

Session Six: Trauma and the Bible

Session Seven: Trauma and the Body

Session Eight: PTSD & Complex PTSD

Session Nine: Crisis Counseling Models

Session Ten: Death & The Dying

Session Eleven: Grief Counseling

Session Twelve: Issues in Counseling Trauma Survivors

 

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Module 10 (12 Weeks)

Sexual Brokenness

Session One: Introduction; Human Sexuality: Biological & Social

Session Two: Biblical Model of Human Sexuality and Counseling

Session Three: Sexuality and Abuse

Session Four: Promiscuity and Infidelity

Session Five: Sexual Addiction & Unusual Practices

Session Six: Same-Sex Attraction, Male

Session Seven: Same-Sex Attraction, Female

Session Eight: Transgenderism & Gender Confusion

Session Nine: Pornography Addiction

Session Ten: Aberrant Sexual Interests & Practices

Session Eleven: Issues in Counseling Sexual Matters

Session Twelve: The Church's Response & Responsibility / Personal After-Care

 

 

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Module 11 (14-17 Weeks)

Counseling Practicum 1

Co-Facilitate Mending the Soul

As with Module 12, the goal of this module is to give students supervised, hands-on experience in group facilitation techniques, as well as to develop personal listening and guidance techniques. As weekly, personal participation is an integral part of the MTS curriculum, students will also learn effective methods for encouraging group participants in maintaining faithfulness in completing the exercises in each chapter of the workbook. The is a pre-requisite for becoming certified as a Mending the Soul Group Leader.

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Module 12 (17 Weeks)

Counseling Practicum 2

Co-Facilitate Journey to Freedom

As with Module 11, the goal of this module is to give students supervised, hands-on experience in group facilitation techniques, as well as to develop personal listening and guidance techniques. As weekly, personal participation is an integral part of the JTF curriculum, students will also learn effective methods for encouraging group participants in maintaining and submitting accountability records. The is a pre-requisite for becoming certified as a Journey to Freedom Group Leader.

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Partial Textbook List (Provided with Program down-payment)

   _____________ The Christian Counselor's New Testament

   and Proverbs (Revised Edition). Stanley: Timeless Texts,

    2000.

    ____________ Competent to Counsel. Grand Rapids:

    Zondervan, 1986.

    _______________ Homework Manual for Biblical Living:

   Volume 2, Family and Marital Problems.

   Phillipsburg: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, 1979.

__________ Transforming Daily. Vancouver: Truth in Love Communications, 2010

--------- A Journey to Freedom: Leadership Guide. Revised. Vancouver: Truth in Love Communications, 2011

 
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Course Requirements

Summary of Requirements

¡  Attend lectures and participate in role-plays.

¡  Midterm Exam

¡  Final Exam

¡  Course Paper

¡  Counseling Dialogue

¡  Reading Synopses

¡  Course Application Paper

Course Paper ( 15%)

Counseling Dialogue (15%)

Reading Synopses (15%)

Course Application Paper (15%)

Midterm Exam (20%)

Final Exam (20%)

Assignments

All assignments not listed in the “Reading and Assignment Schedule” are due the last day of the course. All assignments are to be submitted in both written and electronic (email) form. Extensions must be pre-approved prior to the relevant due date.

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Enroll Today!

 

"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word."

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17