Professional Christian Counselling Training
Students in the programs with a focus on Christian counselling, gain a unique perspective on the counselling discipline as they learn to integrate theology and psychology in a Christ centered, biblically based, Spirit led, and psychologically sound synergy. The counselling courses provide the counselling-psychology foundation needed to acquire honours and masters training.
The personal and professional development of students is at the core of integration as they learn to come alongside and minister to others and make a difference in the world.
Prerequisites:
To register for the B.Th. with a Counselling Concentration, you need to have a school-leaving certificate that grants university access. In South Africa, this is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with four subjects at a rating of 4 (50-59 per cent) or higher. If you have an accredited tertiary qualification, we accept that in lieu of a school-leaving certificate. (If you do not qualify for direct admission to the B.Th., you can start with the Higher Certificate in Christian Life or do the Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling).
If you have completed prior studies in theology or a related field, you may qualify for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Through RPL, you may be exempted from certain courses. Students who have completed the Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling can count 50% of the credits towards a B.Th. with a counselling concentration.
To register for the B.Th. Honours with a Counselling Concentration, you must have a B.Th. with a counselling concentration or a comparable relevant, accredited three-year bachelor’s degree or a B.Th., plus the Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling (some level-7 courses may be required).
To register for the M.Th. in Practical Theology with a counselling concentration, you must have a B.Th. Honours with a counselling concentration or a comparable relevant, accredited four-year bachelor’s degree or a bachelor honours degree, or a B.Th. Honours.
Textbooks Required:
For most courses, you are provided with electronic textbooks and readers, but if you choose to enrol for the Programmes (B.Th., and B.Th. Honours) with a concentration in Christian Counselling, you need to purchase required counselling textbooks.
Counselling Internship
Student-counsellors undergo hours of training in practicum lab work, and a semester counselling internship practicum (in the honours portion) at an agency of choice where they will acquire supervised clinical contact hours. Internships can be done (with permission) in the student-counsellor language of choice on provision that the supervisor is fluent in the language. By utilizing counselling theories and techniques in the field, our graduates gain the experience and counselling skills necessary to work effectively and ethically in their local community.
Composition (Curriculum):
In addition to the required bible and theology courses (60%), the counselling courses (40%) must be taken (required 'electives') as part of the structured curriculum.
The B.Th.C program has a fixed curriculum, consisting of 18 theological courses and 12 counselling courses - 40% Counselling courses and 60% Bible and Theology courses. The twelve (12) counselling courses, four in each year, must be taken as “required” electives.
The B.Th. Honours with a concentration in Christian Counselling is a full-time one-year structured postgraduate degree that builds on specifically the three-year B.Th. with a concentration in Christian Counselling. Student-counsellors will choose the B.Th. Honours in Christian Counselling for the purpose of completing an internship and pursuing licencing as a Professional Christian Counsellor. The Honours program serves as a bridge between bachelor’s level coursework and master’s level research in Christian Counselling. Secondly, it provides the required internship to meet the supervised clinical hours for registration.
The Masters in Christian Counselling (M.Th. Practical Theology with a concentration in Christian Counselling), is a research-based degree that is fully accredited and completely online. The degree takes the form of a substantial research project on a topic that is relevant to the candidates counselling specialization field or approach. They conduct the research under the guidance of a specialist academic supervisor.
This counselling track seeks to integrate theological and psychological truths from a Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led, and psychologically sound perspective.
CCC1129 Biblical Basis and Introduction to Christian Counselling
This course explores the concepts of lay, pastoral, and professional Christian counselling and provide a practical introduction to the foundations of a biblically based approach. Topics covered: Defining Christian counselling, the call to the counselling ministry, characteristics of Christian counsellors, the integration of theology and psychology, and an introduction to the Paraklesis model. This is a required prerequisite for all the other counselling courses - a foundational course.
CCC1128 Theoretical Foundations of Christian Counselling
This course explores the theoretical foundations of counselling. The major counselling-psychology theories, and the main models of Christian counselling will be reviewed from an integrative theological and psychological perspective. A transtheoretical eclectic and integrative model that is Christ centered, biblically based, Spirit led, and psychologically sound, is suggested. This is a required foundational course for the counselling program.
CCC1127 Excellence in Christian Counselling - Ethical and Legal Issues
This Christian Counselling Ethics course will equip lay and professional counsellors with an understanding of professional ethics, training & 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.
CCC1121 Human Development and Christian Counselling
The course is designed to help the caregiver (pastor, lay-counsellor, and professional counsellor) understand the biophysical, intellectual, social, psychological, and spiritual changes that people undergo throughout their life span: from conception until death.
CCC2121 Psychopathology and Spiritual Conflicts
This course provides the Christian counsellor with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding of abnormal behaviour. Introducing the theory and theology of spiritual conflicts and providing an understanding of the different mental disorders. Christian counsellors will acquire the skills to differentiate, make provisional assessments, and make appropriate referrals.
CCC2122 Relationships, Marriage and Family Christian Counselling
This course provides the Christian counsellor with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding of singleness, dating & the choosing of a marriage partner, the marital relationships, family relationships, and relationship breakdown. It provides the theory and theology of couples, marriage, and family counselling, and provides an understanding of pre-marital, couples, marriage, family, and divorce counselling.
CCC2128 Child and Adolescent Christian Counselling
This advanced course provides Christian counsellors with an overview of Child and Adolescence Counselling Psychotherapy. It enables lay and professional counsellors to make assessments and provide treatment of children and adolescents within the limits of their training. Christian counsellors are equipped with effective, evidence based, clinical interventions for children and adolescents.
CCC2129 Counselling Skills – Practicum One
The counselling practicums guides student-counsellors through all the phases of care giving and equip them with the necessary counselling micro and therapeutic skills. Using microskills to establish an effective helping relationship, counsellors can facilitate the client’s personal and spiritual growth and development, change or progress towards wholeness in Christ. Training is done in Triad-groups on the BigBlueButton.
CCC3120 People in Crisis -Pastoral Care & Counselling
This advanced course provides the professional Christian counsellor with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding of people in crisis. Attention is given to the psychological theory and theology of crisis and trauma counselling. Attention will be given to: HIV/AIDS counselling; self-harm and suicide interventions and counselling; domestic violence and abuse counselling; conflict resolution and forgiveness; and resilience.
CCC3121 Gerontology – Pastoral Care and Counselling
This advanced course provides the professional Christian counsellor with an integrative theological and psychological understanding of Gerontology. The psychological theory and practice of counselling ageing individuals and the terminally ill, is explored. Attention will be given to the ethical considerations in counselling ageing individuals, societal attitudes, ageism, care facilities, and end of life issues. Special attention is given to end of life issues, death and dying, & the grieving process.
CCC3122 The Church in Community - Pastoral Care and Counselling
This advanced course provides the professional Christian counsellor with an understanding of congregational care and community counselling. It explores the theological concept of “church” (ekklesia) and the theological and psychological understanding of community. Using group dynamics, care-groups in church, parachurch, and community settings, professional pastoral counsellors can foster the psycho-social-spiritual nurturing of community members.
CCC3123 Substance Abuse - Pastoral Care and Counselling
This advanced course provides the professional Christian counsellor with an understanding of substance abuse and addictions counselling. Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders, comorbid mental disorders, and the sociocultural, political, and phenomenological aspects of addiction, are explored. Counsellors will develop a conceptual knowledge and self-awareness of the etiology and treatment of addictions.
CCC4240 Advanced Counselling Skills Practicum Internship (Semester 24CH)
The Internship focuses on being professional, competent practitioners as registered counsellors. Counselling Interns will do actual counseling/caregiving under supervision at an approved agency, and learn to become proficient in their area of ministry at pastoral and counselling levels of competency. Student-counsellors accumulate supervised clinical counselling hours that will qualify them for registration as a professional Christian counsellor. By utilizing counselling theories and techniques in the field, our graduates gain the experience and counselling skills necessary to work effectively and ethically in their local community.
CCC4121 Counselling Clinical Supervision
Supervision is the key to how successful any counselling ministry is. Historically it’s been central to the training of secular professional counsellors registered by their professional credentialing boards. With pastors and Christian counsellors now being registered, supervision training has become essential. This not only equips student-counsellors in their experience of being supervised during the internship, but also prepares them to become clinical supervisors once they complete their studies and register.
CCC4122 Psychopharmacology for Christian Counsellors
This advanced course explores, from an integrated theology & psychology perspective, the history of healing in the church. Psychopharmacology, the principles of action, a categorical analysis of psychoactive drugs, their physiological, psychological, societal effects, and psycho-spiritual effects are explored. The modern Christian counsellor must be able to do pharmacologically informed counselling - Their clients will either be on medication, or should be on medication, or they are on the wrong medication or not compliant in taking their medication.
CCC4123 Holistic Medicine & Wellness Counselling
The use of complementary and alternative treatments, practices, and natural medicine has permeated much of society and the church. The wellness paradigm will be critiqued from a integrated theological and psychological perspective and applicable wellness-principles integrated with Christian counselling practice. In "holistic medicine" Eastern spirituality has permeated post-modernistic counselling
