Excellence in Christian Counselling - Ethical and Legal Issues

This course is an introduction to Christian Ethics with special application for the Christian Counselling student. Although directed at Christian counsellors, the course includes an introductory analysis of professional ethics, training and practice standards, educational requirements, and mental health law. Attention will be given to contemporary professional and psycho-social issues that effect the training and practice of Christian counsellors. The ethical/legal status and practice of the Christian counsellor will be explored and analytically appraised from an integrated Theology-Psychology perspective. By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Demonstrate insight into the theory, theology and praxis of ethical and legal issues for Christian counsellors
• Engage theologically with moral inquiry and to consider the role and methods of Christian ethics as it pertains to counselling and caregiving in Christian ministry
• Display the critical skills for evaluating ethical issues in counselling from a Christ centered, biblically based, Spirit led, and psychologically sound perspective
• Apply the essential elements of ethical and legal practice as it pertains to competence, accountability, confidentiality, dual or multiple relationships, record keeping, referrals, etc
• Locate and apply applicable Ethical Codes to practical problematic situations in counselling and care-giving ministry

You will be required to purchase the following textbooks in order to complete all counselling courses:

• Collins, G. 2007. Christian Counseling - a Comprehensive Guide (Third Edition). Thomas Nelson.
• Meier, Minirth, Wichern & Ratcliff. 1999. Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications. 2nd Baker Books.
• Tan, S. & Scalise, E.T. 2016. Lay Counseling: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry (Revised and Updated).
• Tan, Siang-Yang, 2011. Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective. Baker Publishing