Theoretical Foundations of Christian Counselling

This course will explore the theoretical foundations of Christian counselling. There will be an overview of the major counselling-psychology theories, and the main models of Christian counselling will be reviewed from an integrative theological and psychological perspective. The Paraklesis model is presented as a transtheoretical eclectic and integrative model, that is Christ centered, biblically based, Spirit led, and psychologically sound. This course will build on the foundations laid in the Biblical Basis Introductory course in expanding the basis for an integrative approach to Christian counselling. By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Understand the dynamic interaction of theory and practice as it applies to counselling praxis
• Examine and describe the different major counselling-psychology theories
• Formulate the foundation of an integrative bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach in Christian counselling
• Understand and apply the theoretical foundations of Christian counselling
• Reflect on Christian counselling from a multicultural perspective
• Describe and use the Paraklesis Model of Counselling as the foundational approach that is Christ-centred, Biblically-based, Spirit-led, and psychologically sound in this counselling programme

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