ACTS ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATON

MASTER OF THEOLOGY

COURSE SYLLABUS-2024-2025

 

ADVANCED CHRISTIAN CARE & COUNSELLING 

Course Design & Syllabus

Introduction:

The course introduces the learners to an advance level study of Christian Care and Counselling. This course is designed to provide the leaners an opportunity for understanding Christian care and counselling in the light of the Bible and Christian Tradition, and developing faith centred counselling skills.  This course aims to provide a life-cycle view of human development as well as introduce the student to a model of counselling practice.

This course is divided into five units. The learner is expected to write an assignment under each unit, after carefully studying the recommended reading materials under each unit. There is also an examination for each unit.  Unit 1 deals with a detailed account of Christian Care & Counselling. Biblical Foundations and different approaches to care and counselling, including the holistic-liberation-growth model. Unit 2 deals with different type of Christian Care and Counselling: formal and informal, supportive counselling, confrontational counselling, educative counselling, marriage enrichment and family counselling, crisis care and counselling. Unit 3 gives an overview of personality development with life cycle purview – from conception to death (womb to tomb). A detailed study with reference to any two select theorists – Sigmund Freud (5 stages) Erik Erikson (8 stages). Unit 4 introduces ethical principes in Christian care and counselling practices. Professional and ethical issues in Christian counselling practice. Referral counselling. Unit 5 gives an in-depth orientation to counselling process and skills based on the model developed by Robert R. Carkhuff which is widely used in counselling training practice. 

Course Objectives:

1.     To help students with an overview of Christian care and counselling based on the Bible and Faith traditions and to provide a general overview of various types of caring and counselling ministries in the church and by the church.                                             

2.     To help students with an overview of personality development with a life cycle framework and to give a primary orientation to the ethical principles that guide Christian care and counselling practices.

3.     To help students to gain insights into the counselling process and skills which would enable them to begin actual counselling process.

 

Course Outcome:

1.  The students have a comprehension of in-depth level of study in Advanced Christian Care & Counseling and understood Bible and faith traditions, types of Counseling ministries, and understood personality development.

2.  The students have acquired skills for Counseling individuals and families, building healthy healing relationships in the ministry of Care and Counseling in different life situations.

3.  The students have familiarized primary ethical principles in Christian Care & Counseling and gained insights to render Care and Counseling help in their ministries, families and towards the society at large. 

 

Course Assessment & Grading:

1.     Formative Assessment 70%

Ø  Unit Assignment 15%

Ø  Class Test 10%

Ø  Class Participation 5%

Ø  Reading Report 10%

Ø  Paper Presentation 10%

Ø  Counselling session 10%

Ø  2 Verbatim 10%

 

2.     Summative Assessment: Final Semester Examination 30%

Paper Presentation Topics:

1.     Spiritual warfare and Mental Health

2. Integrating Faith and Therapy in Counselling: Effective Techniques for Christian Counsellors

3.     Christian Counselling in Digital Age

4.     Christian Counselling for Personality disorders

5.     Vocational Counselling from Christian perspective

6.     Counselling and Discipleship: Finding Balance

7.     Body-Mind-Spirit connection in Christian Counselling

Course Policies:

1. Attendance: Attendance in each class period is mandatory. 100% class attendance will earn five bonus points on the final grade. Student can write the final exam only with minimum 80% of class attendance. Student will be asked to drop the course when the attendance is below 70% due to any reason. Valid medical certificate may be considered to permit the student attend the final exam when the class attendance is between 71%-79%.

2. Leave: Three leaves with prior information to the faculty and permission from the academic Dean will not have any penalty. For each extra leaves 1 point/mark from the final grade will be deducted.

3. Make up Class: If the faculty missed a class period of this course due to any reason, he/she will make it up at a mutually convenient time within the end of the semester.

4. Late Submission: No assignments/course work will be accepted after the final examination date. One mark from the final grade will be deducted per day for late submission of any assigned course work.

5. Final Exam: A student shall write the final exam of the course on the exam week as per announced schedule. If the student misses the final exam due to any reason, he/she will be given another chance to attend the final exam as back log at another scheduled date with exam fee payment. Not more than two chances will be given to write the final exam of the course. Failing to clear the exam within two attempts will result in failing the course.

6. Failing to earn a passing grade for the course will necessitate the student to repeat the course in full at a later semester.

UNIT I: Understanding Christian Care and Counselling

1.     Biblical Foundations of Care & Counselling – care & counselling as two distinct concepts and practices.

2.     The Goals of Christian Care & Counselling and A Caring God in Action – Genesis 1:1 – Rev. 22.

3.     Methods of Christian Care & Counselling – individual, family, community focused towards healing and growth

4.     A Holistic Liberation — Growth Model of Christian Care and Counselling

 

Reading materials:

1.     Lawrence Crabb, Jr., Effective Biblical Counselling, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House, 1977) pp 19-29.

2.     Evelyn H- Peterson, Who Cares? (Devon, England, The Pater Noster Press. pp 125-135.

3.     Howard Clinebell, Basic Types of Pastoral Care & Counselling, London, SCM Press, 1991. pp 72-102; 25-45.

Unit I Assignment: Due date: 8^th July 2023 (2500 words)

Q. Describe the Biblical foundation of Care & Counseling. Give an overview of Holistic Liberation-Growth Model of Christian Care and Counseling.  

UNIT II: Types of Situations in Christian Care and Counselling.

1.     Formal & informal caring situations in the church

2.     Marriage enrichment, premarital training, and family Counselling

3.     Vocational guidance and educative counselling

4.     Crisis care & counselling – adolescents, young adults, senior citizens & Situations with stress and anxiety leading to mental conflicts and distress situations (including depression and other disorders) and Caring for the sick, the dying, the bereaved.

Reading Materials: 

1.     Richard D. Parsons, Adolescents in Turmoil Parents Under Stress: A Pastoral Ministry Primer, New York, Paulist Press, 1987. pp 7-21.

2.     John L.C. Mitman, Premarital Counselling: A Manual for Clergy and Counsellors, The Seabury Press, 1980. pp 39-71; 94-105. 

3.     William V. Arnold, Introduction To Pastoral Care Philadelphia, The Westminster Press, 1982. pp 153-203.

4.     Gilbert cope, Ed. Dying  & Death Disposal, London: SPCK, 1970. pp 26-39; 40-48

Unit II Assignment: Due date: 29^th July (2500 words)

Q. Discuss any one of the situations in Christian Couseling mentioned above giving examples from your ministry in your church, institution, or your work.  

Unit III: Understanding Personality Development (Womb to Tomb),                      Personality development with reference to Life Cycles

1.     Factors of Consideration in Personal Formation: Genetic Disposition, Parental Behaviors, Family Environments, Socio-cultural religious context, Peer group impact, and Formal and Informal Learning.

2.     Challenges and crisis situations as depriving healthy formation – Virtues Vs. Maladaptive Behaviours.

3.     The role of faith community in personal formation.

4.     Introducing Erik Erikson theory with reference to age categorization.

5.     Eight Stages:  Infancy (birth-18 month), Toddlers (18 months – 3 years), Preschool (3-6), school age (6-12), Adolescents (13-18), Young Adults (19-30), Middle Age (31-60), Senior Citizens (61ff). 

Reading materials: 

1.     https://ddceutkal.ac.in/Syllabus/MSW/PAPER-3.pdf  

2.     http://www.wbnsou.ac.in/online_services/SLM/BED/SEM-01_A1.pdf  

3.     Garry Collins, Effective Christian Counselling, pp 60-76

4.     Howard Clinebell, Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counselling, SCM Press_Ltd, 1966. pp 218-282.

Unit III Assignment: Due date 19^th August 2024 (2500 words)

Q. Discuss the Challenges faced by Adolescents causing mental, emotional and spiritual distress. Suggest ways to help them through Pastoral Care & Counseling.

Unit IV: Ethics in Christian Care and Counselling

1.     Personal accountability and transparency

2.     Limitations, boundaries and rules on dual relationships

3.     Commitment to obtain better help for the persona when your services are limited

4.     Obtaining medical/psychiatric help when that is required.

5.     The role of referral counselling.

Reading materials:

1.     Howard W. Stone and William M. Clements (Ed), Hand Book for Basic  Types of Pastoral Care and Counselling, Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1991. pp 56-87.

2.     Barry K.E.. Pastoral Counselling. Pp 279-286.

3.     Howard Clinebell, Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counselling, SCM Press_Ltd, 1966. pp 176-187; pp 310-322.

4.     David Lyall, Integrity of Pastoral Care- London, SPCK- 2001. pp 22-43; 131-163

5.     J.E.Adams, Competent to Counselling, pp 78-104

6.     Lawrence J. Crabb, Effective Biblical Counselling, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. pp 31-56

7.     Andrew D Lester, Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling, Kentucky, Westminster John Knox Press, 1995. pp 43-99

8.     Joseph D, Driskill, Pastoral Psychology. Vol. 38 (2). Winter, 1989. pp 83-103

9.     Jay E. Adams, A Theology of Christian Counseling, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House, 1979. pp 16-36; 61-87; 249-262.

 

Unit IV Assignment: Due date 9^th Sept 2024 (2500 words)

Q. Discuss the significance of Ethics in Christian Care & Counseling. Highlight the professional and ethical issues in Christian Counseling.  

Unit V: Introduction to Counselling process and Skills

         (Based on Robert R. Carkhuff ‘s Training Model) 

1.     Stage I: Pre-Helping: Enabling Self Expression / Active Listening

2.     Stage II: Responding / Self Exploration

3.     Stage III: Integrative Understanding / Dynamic Self Understanding 

4.     Stage IV: Facilitating Action / Action Plans 

5.     Stage V: Evaluation of Progress / Termination 

Reading materials:

1.    Murry, Ezamo. An Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling. Delhi: ISPCK, 2009. (pp. 219-228, 315-320)

2. Kithan, Zubeno. Pastoral Care and Counseling. Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2015. (pp. 35-87)

3. Taylor, Harold. Tend My Sheep. Delhi: ISPCK, 2011. (pp. 93-167)

4. Varghese, George. A Study Book on Counseling. Ed. George Varghese. Kottayam: Christava Sahitya Samithi, 2016. (pp. 15-50)

5. Clinebell, Howard. Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1984. (pp.93-102)

6. Collins, Garry R. Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide. Texas: Word Publishing, 1989. (pp. 75 146, 27-524)

7. Oden, Thomas C. Classical Pastoral Care: Pastoral Counsel Vol. 3. Secunderabad: OM Books, 2005. (pp.7-47)

 Unit V Assignment: Due date 30^th Sept. 2024 (2500 words)

Q. Discuss Theology and Pastoral Practice and Pastoral Ministry today. Write an essay on the on “Christianity and Psychology”: Enemies or Allies. 

Bibliography

Arnold, William V. Introduction To Pastoral Care, Philadelphia. The Westminster.                                                                                                             

Clinebell, Howard. Basic Types of Pastoral Care & Counseling. London: SCM Press, 1991.

Clinebell, Howard. Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Nashville: Abingdon    Press, 1984.

Crabb, Lawrence J. Effective Biblical Counseling. Grand Rapids: Zondervan                       Publishing House, 1977.

Collins, Garry. Effective Christian Counselling.___________

Collins, Garry R. Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide. Texas: Word Publishing,          1989.

Cope, Gilbert. Ed. Dying. Death Disposal, London: SPCK, 1970.

 Clements, William M. and Howard W. Stone (Ed). Hand Book for Basic Types of Pastoral          Care and Counseling. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

Driskill, Joseph D. Pastoral Psychology, Vol. 38. Winter, 1989

KE., Barry. Pastoral Counselling.

Kithan, Zubeno. Pastoral Care and Counseling. Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2015.

Lester, Andrew D. Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Kentucky, Westminster:          John Knox Press, 1995.

Lyall, David. Integrity of Pastoral Care. London: SPCK, 2001.

Mitman, John L.C. Premarital Counseling: A Manual for Clergy and Counselors. The      Seabury Press, 1980.

Murry, Ezamo. An Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling. Delhi: ISPCK, 2009.

Oden, Thomas C. Classical Pastoral Care: Pastoral Counsel Vol. 3. Secunderabad: OM Books, 2005.

 

 

 

Peterson, Evelyn H. Who Cares? Devon, England: The Paternoster Press,_____.

Parsons, Richard D. Adolescents in Turmoil Parents Under Stress: A Pastoral Ministry     Primer. New York, Paulist Press, 1987.

Taylor, Harold. Tend My Sheep. Delhi: ISPCK, 2011.

Varghese, George. A Study Book on Counseling. Ed. George Varghese. Kottayam: Christava        Sahitya Samithi, 2016.