Depression and Anxiety Christian Counselling

This course equips evangelical Christian counsellors to understand, assess, and respond to anxiety and depression with both clinical insight and biblical faithfulness. Beginning with a foundation in psychology and Scripture, students explore outsider witness practices as a means of reflecting identity in Christ and reducing shame. Practical exercises then integrate these approaches, developing skills in listening, reflection, and empowerment. Finally, students apply the 5E Model of Christian counselling to guide clients from anguish to agency, discerning safe referral boundaries while fostering resilience, hope, and Christlike transformation within the South African context. By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Be grounded in a clinical understanding of anxiety and depression, while exploring their links with abuse, trauma, and the evangelical worldview of suffering and lament.

• Apply outsider witness practice within a Christian counselling framework, demonstrating how to listen, reflect, and integrate biblical truth while supporting those experiencing anxiety and depression.

• Demonstrate integrated understanding of anxiety and depression and apply the outsider witness tool in structured role play conversations, showing competence in clinical insight, biblical reflection, and practical counselling skills.

• Apply the 5E Model in counselling clients with anxiety and depression by integrating clinical understanding, biblical foundations, and contextual realities, while discerning safe boundaries for referral and empowerment.