Christian and Spiritual Counseling Concentration Courses
Christian and Faith Based Counseling
Students will learn the differentiation between religion and spirituality, using modern approaches to establish clear definitions. This course includes the study of Fowler’s Six Stages of Faith Development, Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development, and the mastery of practical skills such as conceptualization and appropriate questioning, using a variety of treatment modalities.
Grief Counseling
This course is an active theory, skills and discussion course for professionals heeding the call to help clients through the stages of grieving by exploring the cosmologies and theologies which relate to clients’ specific cultures and beliefs about a variety of losses, choices and dilemmas.
Study of Religions: Life, Death, and Afterlife
This course introduces students to the sacred texts of major world religions, exploring their history, advice, mythology, and rituals used for guidance, encouragement, healing, and inspiration. This provides the groundwork for counselors to utilize skills that help clients to internally process faith-related challenges. Integrating hermeneutical skills can assist counselors in their development of microskills such as reflection, attending and observing, and empathy.
Ethics in Christian and Spiritual Counseling
Learn to integrate the ASERVIC competencies into the field of counseling through a spiritually-based, multi-modal approach to theory and application. Students will engage competency-driven strategies that support ethical practice and honor the sacred in the lives of those seeking spiritual counseling.
Integration of Positive Psychology and Spirituality
This course examines the relationship between religious faith and optimal psychological functioning. By the strengthening of bonds between positive psychology and the science of religion and spirituality, there is evidence that by focusing on positive emotions, an individual’s spiritual practices can influence their physiological as well as psychological wellbeing.
Master of Arts in Counseling Required Courses
Graduate Counseling Seminar in Clinical Foundations
Provides an overview addressing necessary foundations in the content areas of abnormal psychology,
developmental psychology, and theories of personality. Introduction to APA style and format.
Counseling Theories
Examination of theories of personality development and therapeutic processes. Consideration of techniques for counseling applications and professional consultation.
Social/Cultural Concerns in Counseling
Study of social, cultural and gender differences and issues related to counseling clients with various backgrounds, beliefs and concerns. Includes multicultural counseling techniques.
Counseling and the Helping Professions
Examines counseling process, instruction and practice in communication skills in counseling, history, development and practice of counseling as a profession, and how and where counseling is provided.
Human Growth and Development
Examination of psychological, social, intellectual, and physical influences on the development of personality and behavior patterns in children, adolescents and adults.
Group Counseling and Dynamics
Theories of group counseling. Includes techniques of observation, assessment and leadership in therapeutic groups.
Methods and Models of Research
Examination of models of research and application of scientific methods to investigate, analyze, and develop solutions relative to current issues in the field.
Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling
Study of ethical, legal and professional concerns in the practice of counseling.
Psychological Testing
Examines use of standardized tests to study individuals, including test development, selection, administration and interpretation. Includes educational and mental health applications.
Life Planning and Career Development
Focus on theory, research, techniques and tools used in life planning, transitions and career development.
Theory/Techniques in Marriage and Family Counseling
Examination of traditional and contemporary theories of family systems and approaches to marriage and family counseling.
Advanced Psychodiagnostic and Treatment Planning
As a preparation for Clinical Internship, students will expand their knowledge of the multi-axial system, DSM-5 diagnostic categories, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning. Emphasis will also be placed on the clinical interview and other initial assessment techniques, as well as skills critical to selecting and evaluating treatment options.
Intro to Substance Addictions and Related Disorders
Introduction to patterns, causes, assessment and treatment of substance abuse and other addictive disorders. Student begins preparation of required portfolio.
Internship
900 hours and seven semesters.