Course Syllabus Outline Please click here to return to TUA list
Course Number, Title, and Credits
COU 301 Biblical Principles and Christian Counseling (3):
Academic Level of Course
Lower Division Undergraduate (100 -299)
Upper Division Undergraduate (300 – 499)
Graduate Division Master’s (500 – 599)
Graduate Division Doctorate (600 – 699)
Expected Time Required To Complete Course
Three months minimum.
Description of Course
Introductory course providing basic information, insights, techniques, and skills required for successful Christian counseling.
Course Learning Objectives (In general terms, what the student should know at the end of the course)
To learn basic humanistic and Biblical counseling theories, models, and therapies, their divergencies and convergencies, their compatibilities and incompatibilities, and their relationships to Biblical truth;
To learn to scrutinize theories and therapies in relation to Biblical truth and their effectiveness/ineffectiveness in Christian counseling sessions;
To learn Christian principles integrating into the counseling endeavor;
To learn how to prepare for a Christian counseling session for positive results;
To learn methods and skills in guiding the counseling session;
To learn how to evaluate the counselee, the counseling session, and the counselor in reference to the Biblical principles of Christian counseling.
Course Textbooks (minimum of 3 books for undergraduate study; minimum of 4 books for graduate study
Larry Crabb, Understanding People: Why We Long for Relationship
Mark R. McMinn, Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling
William T. Kirwin, Biblical Concepts for Christian Counselung: A Case for Integrating Psychology and Theology
Paul D. Meier, Frank B. Minirth, Frank Wichern, Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications
Internet Resources (research on topics available from internet resources is recommended)
The student will complete 3 internet research projects one in each of the following periods: The topics of the research projects will be suggested by the student and approved by the professor. The student will complete each project in a 30 day sequence.
Course Assignments (specific activities the student must do to complete the course and accomplish the course objectives)
The student will read each textbook in the following sequence;
Larry Crabb, Understanding People: Why We Long for Relationship
Mark R. McMinn, Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling
William T. Kirwin, Biblical Concepts for Christian Counseliung: A Case for Integrating Psychology and Theology
Paul D. Meier, Frank B. Minirth, Frank Wichern, Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications
The student will develop brief identifications to the following terms, citing text page references from all the textbooks used for the identifications:
Affection, agoraphobia, alienation, anger, anorexia, anxiety, atheism, avoidance, belongingness, Biblical counseling, bulimia, character, cognition, commitment, compulsive behavior, confrontation, counseling, conversion, denial, dependency, depression, diagnosis, edification, emotions, empathy, empiricism, fallen mankind, feelings, goals, God, humanism, Image-bearers, inadequacy, introspection, intuition, justification, longings, love, moralism, motives, non-directive therapy, Nouthetic counseling, pain, parenting, personality, pragmatism, psychodynamics, psychology, psychotherapy, rationalism, rejection, relationship, repentance, repression, satisfaction, self-protection, sin, theory, therapy, the unconscious, truth, volitionality, vulnerability.
Discuss briefly the views and theories of the following persons and compare and contrast their views and theories with scripture:
Adams, Adler, Freud, Horney, Jung, Maslow, Rogers
Evaluate Dr. Crabb’s discussion of sufficiency of the Bible, Part I (pages 1 - 73). What did you learn from his discussion? How practical would his views be in preparing for and engaging in a counseling session? On what points do you differ with Dr. Crabb and why? Please cite scripture for your differences.
In Part II, Understanding People: A Tarnished Image and Broken Relationships (page 77 – 189), Dr. Crabb discusses three relational models. Please identify them and discuss them. Are these models valid in the light of Scripture? If so, why? If not, why not?
On page 88, Dr. Crabb sets out a Biblical model of counseling. Central to his model is the Image of God and the fall of man. Please discuss this model from Dr. Crabb’s viewpoint. Do you agree? What do you think is a better Biblical model, if you disagree with his?
In chapters 7, 8, 10 and 11, Dr. Crabb offers the idea that people are personal, rational, volitional, and emotional . What does he mean by those words? Do you agree? Where does he go wrong, if he does? How would you characterize people in light of Dr. Crabb’s discussion in these chapters? How do these characterizations of people affect your preparation for a counseling session? What do you find in the Bible that supports these characterizations? If anything, where in the scripture?
Dr. Crabb closes his book with a discussion of maturity as a significant part of the healing process. What does he say about maturity and do you agree? What is the Bible basis for his views and yours? What do you think about maturity and healing? How would you look for it in a client with whom you have counseled?
After reading Dr. McMinn’s book, discuss your understanding of Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality. If you were to begin counseling today, how would you prepare to integrate psychology, theology, and spirituality in your counseling activities and interaction with the client? What specific suggestions did Dr. McMinn make that you would likely include in your preparation for counseling? Why?
In Dr. McMinn’s book, he discusses several strictly religious activities as important – indispensable – to the successful Christian counseling process. They are prayer, scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption. How does he present these topics as part of the counseling process? Why should they be considered relevant to a successful counseling outcome?
Dr. Kirwin presents in his first Part, a chapter entitled, The Four Basic Counseling Positions. What are they? Do you agree? Why? How would knowing of his four basic counseling positions be helpful to you as a counselor?
In Dr. Kirwin’s book, he includes two chapters on personal identity. Why is that important? Discuss and evaluate his views on personal identity.
In the last Part of his book (beginning page 119) he discussion the Christian counseling experience by models and diagnosis. Explain what he is saying in this part of his book and why it is useful. Do you have suggestions to improve what he is saying or to correct what he is saying? Is he Biblical? If so, what scriptures support his views?
In the book entitled “Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications”, please read the first 84 pages. Take notes as you need in order to have the essential information at hand. Further assignments will be made in this book as you read through the other 3 textbooks.
The student will complete a mid term examination and a final examination
Course Grade based on reading, assignments, reports, and tests