Curriculum

The Paraklesis Christian Counselling Courses will prepare you as a lay counsellor for ministry in your church and community (start with the foundational courses).

Beginning therapists can enhance their knowledge base and further equip them for their caregiving and counselling.

Professional Therapists can add a Christian approach and model to their skillset, or take a specialized course in an area where professional growth is needed.

This program is used by the Holy Spirit to equip you for the ministry of counselling and care-giving in the church and the community. 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 courses in this counselling program will help you discover realities about your own life, about your family of origin, and about your present relationships, it will give you the tools to have a more spirit-controlled and committed life. Above all, it will equip you for your ministry of counselling. Those already involved in ministry and caring will be equipped to serve competently, and to minister more effectively.

In training Christian counsellors we contribute to the building up the local church into the full statue of the body of Christ.

Open Learning

There are no prerequisites - if you want to learn more about Christian counselling that is Christ centered, Biblically based, Spirit led, and Psychologically sound - purchase a course and start studying.
You determine the academic level that fits your needs. You can just listen to the lectures and nothing more, or you can participate in the discussion forums and do the quizzes (a good way to self-evaluate and get feedback). You can purchase all or some of the textbooks and do as much as you like of the suggested readings. The better equipped you want to be, the more you will do. You can choose to not do the assignments or complete the assignments for further enrichment of your learning and add it to your portfolio.
Many involved in church or community ministry (pastors, elders, youth-workers, volunteers, etc.) do not need a degree or certificate that could lead to registration as a counsellor - they just want to be better equipped for the church ministry they are already involved in.

Paraklesis Curriculum

The Paraklesis Counsellor Training consists of core foundational courses, additional electives, and some advanced courses.
In content all the courses conform to Bachelor’s degree standards and provide a high quality and depth of counsellor training (depending on how much you intend to put into your studies)
The courses are of a high academic nature and are presented on the same and higher standard that is required in a undergrad course, but without the pressure to complete coursework, write exams, or submit assignments.
It is highly recommended that you purchase the prescribed textbooks and do the suggested readings - it will significantly better equip you than just listening to the lectures.

Where to start?

Browse through the available courses and formulate your own study plan.
If you are a beginning counsellor, please complete the core courses first.
If you are a practicing counsellor but the Paraklesis Model is new to you, please start with The Biblical Basis and Introduction to Christian Counselling

We believe that God puts no premium on ignorance and that it is the calling and duty of each Christian counsellor to excel above the required standard and to be ethically equipped to the best-practice standards.

PAR101 Biblical Basis and Introduction to Christian Counselling

This course explores the concept of Christian counselling and provides a practical introduction to the foundations of the approach: Christ Centered, Biblically Based, Spirit Led, and Psychologically sound. It explores the concept of Christian counselling: 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 foundational course lays the groundwork for the counselling program and is strongly suggested as the first course to take.

$ 179 (USD)

PAR 208 The Theory of Counselling Microskills – Practicum One

This practicum introduces student-counsellors to all the phases of care giving and equips them with the necessary counselling microskills theory needed to become a practitioner. Understanding the microskills and how they work, enables counsellors to establish effective helping relationships. Counsellors learn how microskills can facilitate the client’s personal and spiritual growth and development in progressing towards wholeness in Christ. The microskills will be applied and practised in PAR209 (Practicum Two) through role-plays with study buddies in triad-groups.

$225 USD

PAR104 Crisis and Trauma Counselling

This course is designed to provide the Christian counsellor with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding of crisis and trauma and the practical skills to come alongside those experiencing a crisis and/or trauma. Within the boundaries of their training, they will be able to facilitate growth out of trauma, make provisional assessments, and make appropriate referrals. Attention will be given to important topics: Self-harm, Suicide assessment & interventions; Post Traumatic Stress/Growth (Resilience); and HIV/AIDS counselling.

$179 USD

PAR106 Wellness Christian Counselling

This course focuses on a wellness approach to Christian caregiving and counselling. It explores spirituality from a biblical integrative bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding. Holistic approaches and medicine is critiqued and evaluated from an integrated theology and psychology perspective. It equips Christian counsellors to come alongside individuals with a prevention and optimally functioning approach from a Christian wellness perspective - helping them grow to peak personal and spiritual wellbeing.
$179 USD

PAR107 Addictions Counselling

This course provides Christian counsellors with an understanding of the addictive process, substance abuse and addictions counselling. It explores the latest theories of addiction counselling; the etiology and treatment of addiction; the substance-related and addictive disorders; comorbid mental disorders; and the sociocultural, political, and phenomenological aspects of addiction. From an integrative bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective, counsellors will be equipped to come alongside and support individuals struggling with addiction.

$179 USD

PAR203 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. Forgiveness and reconciliation is included. Course includes examples of informed consent forms, pre-counselling information forms, Paraklesis marital counselling handouts on couples core relationship, communication, and conflict management.

$225 USD

PAR204 Community Care and Christian Counselling

This course provides the 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, Christian counsellors can foster the psycho-social-spiritual nurturing of community members. Congregations must be a community where healing can take place, and were congregations can fulfill their responsibility of service in the local community. Course includes a module on setting up a counselling ministry in a church, and a module for setting up a private practice.

$225 USD

PAR205 Gerontology - Counselling Ageing Seniors and the Terminally Ill

This course provides the Christian counsellor with an integrative theological and psychological understanding of Gerontology. The psychological theory and practice of caring for ageing individuals and the terminally ill, is explored. Attention will be given to the ethical considerations in caring for ageing individuals, societal attitudes, ageism, and care facilities. Special attention is given to end of life issues, death and dying, bereavement, and the grieving process.

$225 USD

PAR206 Psychopharmacology - Medicine, Health, and Healing

This course explores from an integrated theological and psychological perspective, the history of healing in the church and the theological relationship to medicine and health. Psychopharmacology, the principles of action, a categorical analysis of psychoactive drugs, their physiological, psychological, societal effects, and psycho-spiritual effects are explored. Christian counsellors must be able to do pharmacologically informed counselling. This course explores the theological and psycho-spiritual implication of the use of psychotropic medications and provides Christian counsellors with sufficient psychopharmacological knowledge to be able to provide compassionate supportive care to those who are receiving mental health care from professionals.

$225 USD

PAR209 The Praxis of Counselling Microskills – Practicum Two

This practicum provides student-counsellors the opportunity to apply the theory learned in PAR208 through role-plays with study buddies in triad-groups. Practising setting up a therapeutic relationship and using the microskills to come alongside and facilitating the client’s personal and spiritual growth and development in progressing towards wholeness in Christ. Student counsellors must find two study-buddies that could meet with them in person or online in triad-groups to practice their counselling skills.

$225 USD

Paraklesis Counselling

Excellence in Counselling Practice and Training