Why "Open Learning" Counsellor Training is for YOU!

You are interested in Christian counselling, involved in Christian Counselling, even have some training, but you don't want or need an academic degree or certificate, or you cannot afford it - "open learning" counsellor training is for YOU!

1. Equipping you as a Christian Counsellor

The Paraklesis Counselling Program was developed for training professional Christian counsellors, but is now available for "Open Learning".

Specifically developed for you if you want to equip yourself as a counsellor, caregiver, and helper. If you want to be better prepared for serving as a Christian counsellor in your community or church - this training will empower you for your counselling ministry.

2. Who is the training for?

The training is especially suited for:

• all lay counsellors - pastors, elders, youth workers, community care providers, NGO workers, and anyone who would like to be better equipped.
• counsellors who want to serve their church/community as a Christian counsellor.

Mental healthcare professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapist, psychiatric nurses) often do the program or take specific courses if they are interested in the integration of psychology and theology and a spiritual integrated approach.

3. Christ Centred, Biblically Based, Spirit led, & Psychologically Sound

The training is faith based and presented from a Christian perspective, integrating sound counselling-psychology principles. The program is specifically for  Christian counsellors who want to be involved in a caregiving ministry in their church or community. Although it is faith based, it is also a good training program for individuals who want to be community care-givers, serving at NGO's or non-profit organisations in a secular environment.

4. Personal & Spiritual Enrichment

The training will not only enrich you as a person, but it will contribute to your own personal and spiritual growth as a Christian. We also believe that this training program can be used by the Holy Spirit to equip you for the ministry of counselling in the church and your community. In so doing we want to contribute to building up the local church into the full statue of the body of Christ.

5. Enhancing your Life-Skills & Wellbeing

If you feel that you need spiritual enrichment, more life-skills, and encouragement to grow to a more mature person - this is the right program for you. The Paraklesis Training courses will help you discover realities about your own life, about your family of origin, and about your present relationships. It will also give you the tools to have a more spirit-controlled committed life, and overall wellbeing. Those involved in ministry and caring will be equipped to serve well, and to minister more effectively.

6. Presented by Dr Mervin van der Spuy

Dr Mervin is a well known and distinguished counsellor-educator. As Professor of Counselling Psychology he trained professional psychotherapist - masters and doctoral students. As psychopharmacologist he has more than 30 years of counselling practice experience. He served as vice-president of the International Association of Christian Counsellors, and was the founder president of the Association of Christian Counsellors in South Africa. Even though Dr Mervin has retired, his courses are still available here for you.

7. Prestigious Counsellor Training

Even though an "open learning" concept is used and you decide how much you want to do and how many courses you want to complete, all the courses are fully accredited by SAQUA and still presented as such by The South African Theological Seminary (the courses at SATS are accredited by the Department of Higher Education in South Africa and presented as an official e-Learning higher certificate in Christian counselling, and a bachelors and honours with a focus on counselling - the Honours program serves as a bridge between bachelor’s level coursework and master’s level research in Christian Counselling, and it provides the required internship to meet the supervised clinical hours for registration.

If you are interested in becoming a professional Christian counsellor with a degree that will lead to registration, you have to consider such a program, the "open learning" presented by Paraklesis will not be sufficient.