Courses
The purpose of the Department of Counseling Ministries is to develop biblically and theologically sound Christian counselors who are equipped to effectively impact people’s lives in a variety of ministry and professional counseling practice settings. These are the courses taught by the professors in the Department of Counseling Ministries:
CM5101 Pastoral Counseling and Ethics
A course designed to consider the special issues associated with the theory, practice, and administration of counseling in pastoral settings. Special attention will be given to the current standards for the ethical practice of pastoral counseling and care in a variety of ministry contexts. Students will receive training for certification in the PREPARE-ENRICH© and MBTI assessments and the Strategic Pastoral Counseling model. 3 hours.
CM5201 Theological and Psychological Foundations of Counseling
An introduction to the foundations of Christian counseling, emphasizing the priority of a theological system for theory and practice. Special attention is given to models of integration, historical developments, current directions, and collaborative models of Christian counseling for the local church and the professional Christian counselor. This course is a recommended prerequisite or corequisite to all other Counseling Ministries courses. 3 hours.
CM5210 Counseling Theory
A course designed to provide an introduction to primary counseling theories, with special attention given to evaluating those theories on the basis of Scripture, understanding the nature of men and women, observing how and why problems develop, and dealing with those problems in appropriate and effective ways. 3 hours.
CM5215 Normal Human Growth
A course designed to trace the normal stages and understand the natural processes of human growth and development (from before birth to old age) on various levels: physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional. 3 hours.
CM5220 Counseling Methods and Techniques
A study of the major techniques and strategies that can be appropriately and effectively used in counseling adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families, including methods for defining and diagnosing problems as well as intervention and treatment of the problems. Prerequisite: CM5210 Counseling Theory. 3 hours.
CM5225 Psychopathology I: Abnormal Human Behavior
A course designed to study the symptoms and underlying personal and interpersonal dynamics of the major categories of dysfunction in human behavior or social organization, as found in the DSM manual. 3 hours.
CM5230 Lifestyle and Career Development
A survey of theories, issues, and informational sources associated with educational choices, career options, and vocational decisions that will enable the counselor to assist clients with vocational guidance and healthy lifestyle choices. 3 hours.
CM5235 Social and Cultural Foundations
A study of cultural and cross-cultural issues related to counseling. The course will investigate society and the church in terms of the role of women, ethnic groups, lifestyle traditions and change, population patterns, and counseling on the mission field. 3 hours.
CM5240 Research Methods and Statistics
A study of statistics (principles, usefulness, and limitations) and other standard research tools and methods as applied in the field of counseling. 3 hours.
CM5245 Appraisal and Assessment Techniques
A course in which the student is trained in the theory, principles, and practice of using the major test instruments and nontesting approaches to assessment of a client’s condition and needs. 3 hours.
CM5250 Professional Orientation and Ethics
A course designed to introduce the student to the ethical and legal standards, professional organizations, educational standards, state licensure codes, and the appropriate role and professional identity of practitioners in the field of counseling. 3 hours.
CM5255 Addictions and Compulsive Behaviors
This course will examine the diagnosis, treatment planning, and recovery process for those dealing with addictions or with compulsive behaviors. Attention is given to the alcoholic/addict and family members, with emphasis on the “disease” model of addictions treatment and the utilization of 12-step support groups in the treatment of the recovering person and the family members. Other compulsive disorders will also be examined with a focus on diagnosis, treatment planning, and recovery process. 3 hours.
CM5260 Psychopathology II: Psychopharmacology
A course in psychopathology to include such content as criteria of psychiatric diagnosis, use of the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the theories of psychopathology. This course will review basic principles of pharmacology with attention to the various medications given in the field of mental health. Students will learn mechanisms, indications, side-effects, and adverse reactions of important psychiatric medications. Prior instruction in biology, cell biology, or neurobiology is helpful but not required. 3 hours.
CM5270 Family Systems
An introduction to the family-system approach to intervention, which integrates marital, sibling, and individual subsystems as well as family-of-origin and external societal influences. Biblical perspectives, clinical diagnosis, and treatment strategies are emphasized. 3 hours.
CM5280 Group Counseling
An examination of group purpose, membership, stages and process, including the leader’s role and leadership competencies. Emphasis is placed on small-group experience and its application both professionally and ministerially. 3 hours.
CM5300 Professional Skills and Ethics
A second ethics course designed to further develop the requisite ethical skills, practices, processes, and procedures involved in counseling. Special emphasis will be given to confidentiality, informed consent, documentation and maintaining professional records, dual relationships, supervision, working with clients with a diversity of backgrounds as well as current business and marital and family legal issues. Because this course serves as a significant professional and personal pre-practicum experience, students will also begin their required 20 sessions of personal therapy as a client during this semester. Students will also successfully complete and pass their Stage-2 Faculty Interview before being permitted to proceed on to the clinical phase of the MAC program and CM5305 Counseling Practicum I. Prerequisite: CM5210 Counseling Theory. Enrollment limited to 12 MAC students per section. 3 hours.
CM5305 Counseling Practicum I
A course designed for students to experience, observe, and apply in practice counseling theory, methods, and techniques at an off-site location while under supervision (10 hours per week). Includes supervision and evaluation from professor as well as interactive feedback from professor and student-peers within an on-site, group- practicum context. Students present a minimum of three counseling experiences supplemented with a summary. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis, treatment plan, and biblical integration. Prerequisites: CM5300 Professional Skills and Ethics, CM5215 Normal Human Growth, CM5220 Counseling Methods and Techniques, and CM5225 Psychopathology I: Abnormal Human Behavior. (The latter two must be taken previously or concurrently with this practicum.) Enrollment limited to only 8 MAC students per section. 3 hours.
CM5310 Counseling Practicum II
A course designed for students to experience, observe, and apply in practice counseling theory, methods, and techniques at an off-site location while under supervision (10 hours per week). Includes supervision and evaluation from professor as well as interactive feedback from professor and students within an on-site, group-practicum context. Students present a minimum of three videotaped counseling experiences supplemented with a case summary. Emphasis is placed on diagnosis, treatment plan, and biblical integration. Prerequisites: CM5220 Counseling Methods and Techniques and CM5305 Counseling Practicum I. Enrollment limited to 8 students. 3 hours.
CM5315 Counseling Practicum III
A course designed as a continuation of Practicum II, with greater emphasis on comprehensive clinical definition carefully written in accordance with the standards of the profession. Students present a minimum of three videotaped counseling sessions supplemented with a case summary. Prerequisite: CM5310 Counseling Practicum II. Enrollment limited to 8 students. 3 hours.
CM5325 Counseling Practicum Elective
This course will require a supervisory relationship between a counseling professor and MAC student working to accrue additional practicum hours and/or a particular counseling training experience that was not included in Practicums I-III. The student will be supervised as he or she experiences, observes, and practices the application of counseling techniques at an off-site location. Enrollment requires consent of the professor. Prerequisite: CM5305 Counseling Practicum I. 1-3 hours.
CM5330 International Counseling Practicum
This elective is designed for students who choose to participate in an approved practicum outside the United States. The course will emphasize careful clinical practice according to the standards of the profession, and will require a supervisory relationship between a counseling professor and the student. Enrollment requires the consent of the department. 1–4 hours.
CM5405 Introduction to Play Therapy
A course designed to introduce the major theories of play therapy, help the student develop an approach to play therapy, increase the student’s understanding of children and the child’s natural language of play, and help the student learn the essential skills of play therapy. Biblical foundations of play therapy will be considered. 3 hours.
CM5410 Filial Therapy
A course designed to introduce the therapeutic practice of filial therapy, help the student develop the skills related to teaching parents the basic principles of play therapy, and help the student understand how to consult with parents as they implement weekly filial sessions with the child. In addition, the student will gain an understanding of developmentally appropriate parenting techniques that can be implemented in parent psychoeducation. Prerequisite: CM5405 Introduction to Play Therapy. 3 hours.
CM5415 Group Play Activity Therapy
A course designed to introduce the therapeutic practice of group play therapy, as well as the therapeutic practice of activity therapy with preadolescents and adolescents. The course will help students develop the necessary therapeutic skills to conduct group play therapy sessions and use other developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions for use with preadolescents and adolescents. In addition, the student will gain an understanding of expressive therapies and their use within the therapeutic relationship. Prerequisite: CM5405 Introduction to Play Therapy. 3 hours.
CM5420 Premarital Counseling
A study of theory and practical techniques in premarital counseling, with attention to longitudinal empirical research on the predictors of relationship outcomes of stability and satisfaction. Evidence-based practices resulting from the research will be examined and specific assessments and intervention skills will be acquired and practiced with couples. 3 hours.
CM5422 Marital Counseling
A study of theory and practice of conjoint therapy with married couples in crisis. A number of theoretical perspectives and related clinical techniques will be studied, including biblical integration. Attention will also be given to intervention techniques for couples in distress. 3 hours.
CM5424 Marital Enrichment
A course designed to train students in the theory and skills necessary to conduct psychoeducational marital-enrichment programs. The student will be trained in the PREP and the Marriage Core models designed to strengthen marriages not in crisis. These models will be examined within a theological and research-based framework. Integration of specific skills and strategies will be emphasized. 3 hours.
CM5426 Counseling and Family Law
A course designed to introduce students to the legal aspects and implications of family relationships and the interaction between the disciplines of counseling and law. It prepares students to recognize legal issues that arise in counseling practice and to identify situations in which the counselor should advise clients to seek legal assistance. 3 hours.
CM5430 Death and Dying
This course examines selected aspects of death, including the dying person’s needs, palliative care, legal arrangements, bereavement issues, and personal and cultural differences in grieving. Difficult spiritual questions and the scriptural responses are discussed. 3 hours.
CM5436 Diagnosis and Treatment of Trauma Disorders
A study of post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, and dissociative identity disorder, as well as how trauma is correlated with other diagnoses. Attention is given to examining the prevalence, cause, and specialized treatment of physical and sexual abuse and trauma disorders. Controversies surrounding dissociative identity disorder, repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse, satanic ritual abuse, and exorcism as a treatment are examined. 3 hours.
CM5440 Crisis Counseling
This course is a basic introduction to counseling during crises, disasters, or other trauma-causing events. Students will examine selected aspects of crisis, trauma, and death and dying, including the impact and consequences of stressful events and circumstances on victims, first responders, families, churches, and other service providers in the community. Attention is given to biblical principles, roles and responsibilities for emergency response teams, the appropriate use of diagnosis during a crisis, the process of grief and loss, and effective counseling strategies and methods. 3 hours.
CM5450 Personality Theory
An analysis of major theories of personality taught by various Christian and secular authors and how those issues relate to biblical anthropology, sanctification, and counseling. 3 hours.
CM5455 Introduction to Christian Mentoring and Coaching
This course is a practical introduction to mentoring and coaching. Attention is given to biblical principles, definitions, models, techniques, and available resources, with an emphasis on applications in counseling and leadership contexts. May also be credited in the Department of Educational Ministries and Leadership (see EML5315). 3 hours.
CM5505 Family Research and Assessment
Examines the findings of research on family dynamics and provides certification and training for the Prepare/Enrich Inventory for couple and family assessments. 3 hours.
CM5547 A Biblical Theology of Suffering, Disability, and the Church
A study of the biblical meanings and purposes of suffering, with theological reflections and application to various aspects of suffering and disability-related ministries. The course number of guest lecturers, including Joni Eareckson Tada. May also be credited in the Department of Bible Exposition (see BE5547). 3 hours.
CM5605 Human Sexuality
A basic introduction to counseling for sexual issues. Students are introduced to a theology of sexuality, a basic model for addressing sexual issues in counseling, basics of sexual biology and psychology, sexual development, sexual dysfunction, and basic intervention techniques. 3 hours.
CM5610 Sexuality and Ethics
This course examines historical and contemporary views of human sexuality and ethics from both theological and secular perspectives, with attention to the meaning and implications of humans as sexual beings. Sexual meanings, practices, and values will be addressed specifically in the topics of gender, singleness, marriage, intimacy, social sexuality, erotic sexuality, sexual identity, gender identity, and sexual disorders. The course includes a number of guest lecturers representing specific areas of expertise. Specific ethical issues will be applied to both ministry and clinical settings. 3 hours.
CM5615 Basic Issues in Sex Therapy
A course designed for the student pursuing the field of sex therapy. This course focuses on the profession of sex therapy, exploring historical, ethical, cultural, and research issues, and theoretical distinctives in the field. Students also explore sex therapy with specific populations. Prerequisite: CM5605 Human Sexuality. 3 hours.
CM5621 Sexual Educator Certification I
This course is designed to train church leaders to unveil God’s transforming truths about sexuality and to cultivate sexually healthy churches. The focus of this course is to equip students to serve others in ministry settings in order to prevent sexual problems and to promote healthy sexual growth and development. This course will focus on (1) single sexuality, (2) male sexuality, and (3) marital sexual intimacy. 3 hours.
CM5622 Sexual Educator Certification II
This course is designed to train church leaders to unveil God’s transforming truths about sexuality and to cultivate sexually healthy churches. The focus of this course is to equip students to serve others in ministry settings in order to prevent sexual problems and to promote healthy sexual growth and development. This course will focus on (1) female sexuality, (2) premarital sexual preparation, and (3) marital sexuality and personal spiritual formation. 3 hours.
CM5623 Sexual Educator Certification III
This course is designed to train church leaders to unveil God’s transforming truths about sexuality and to cultivate sexually healthy churches. The focus of this course is to equip students to serve others in ministry settings in order to prevent sexual problems and to promote healthy sexual growth and development. This course will focus on (1) parents teaching children sex education, (2) adolescent sexuality, and (3) sexual identity and gender-identity development. 3 hours.
CM5630 Advanced Sexual Addiction Counseling
This course provides an in-depth, advanced examination of current theories and treatment approaches to addressing problematic hypersexuality (compulsive and addictive sexuality). Students will explore the diagnosis, etiology, disease process, treatment, recovery process, and current research findings for sexual addictions in males and females. Prerequisite: CM5605 Human Sexuality. 3 hours.
CM5701 Chaplaincy Orientation and Issues
This course introduces students to, and equips them for, the broad field of chaplaincy ministry. A wide range of issues are considered from potential service areas to different expectations placed on workplace, educational, government, healthcare, military, ministry care, and public-safety chaplains. 3 hours.
CM5901 Independent Study in Counseling Ministries
Independent research in some phase of counseling ministries not specifically treated in other courses. Credit is allowed proportionate to the amount of work but not to exceed 4 credit hours in any one subject of study. Limited to advanced students and subject to consent of the professor. 1–4 hours.
CM5905 Special Topics in Counseling Ministries
This course is designed for students who choose to participate in special conferences, training, or programs that are more formal in nature and require student participation other than a standard independent study. Approved special topics will provide expertise or training not specifically covered in the seminary curriculum. Credit is allowed proportionate to the required amount of work but is not to exceed 4 credit hours on any one topic. Enrollment requires consent of the department. 1–4 hours.