graduate certificate in lay counselinggraduate certificate in lay counseling 6 courses (18 credits)...

G R A D U A T E C E R T I F I C A T E I N

Lay Counseling6 COURSES (18 CREDITS)

Available Online or at our Charlotte Campus

Version 2.8 | 04.23.2020

The Certificate in Lay Counseling equips Christians to engage in pastoral care & counseling.Students should be committed Christians exploring or pursuing Christian ministry. The six courses in this

certificate are intended to foster a thoughtful, loving, Christ-centered approach to your ministry context.

Pastoral CounselingThe Certificate in Lay Counseling requires no ministry or seminary prerequisites. However, you may

elect to receive instead a “Certificate in Pastoral Counseling” by pairing this certificate with either the

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM). The certificate and

Master’s Degree may be completed in any order.

Clinical CounselingThis certificate is not specifically designed to prepare you for a professional career in clinical counseling.

CO-Specific courses may be applied to a Master of Arts in Counseling (MACO or MACC), but counseling

programs have specific admissions requirements. Please reach out to our admissions team if your goal

is to be prepared as a licensed clinical counselor.

This certificate program is ideal for:

Lay CounselorsPastorsElders & DeaconsChurch Staff

Small Group LeadersChristian MentorsCampus Ministry StaffMissionaries

Certificate in Lay Counseling

SyllabusProgram Goals .............03Faculty ...................................04Courses ................................. 05Course Formats ............10Tuition & Fees ................12Admissions .......................13Contact ..................................14

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Program Goals

You will be biblically grounded.

You will articulate a biblical framework for integrated Christian counseling.

You will be globally aware.

You will demonstrate respect for human diversity within a multicultural

perspective.

You will be equipped with ministry skills.

You will understand how various modes of Christian counseling fit with the

broader mental health community and create a mental health network for the

purposes of support and referral. You will develop the skills needed in order to

competently and ethically provide short-term lay counseling services.

GORDON-CONWELL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

LEARN MORE: www.gordonconwell.edu/learning-objectives

GLOBALDISCIPLESHIP

BIBLICALGROUNDING

THEOLOGICALFRAMEWORK

SPIRITUALFORMATION

GLOBALVISION

MINISTRYSKILLS

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COUNSELING FACULTY

Dr. Carolina BenitezAssistant Professor of Counseling

Dr. Pam DavisAssociate Professor of Counseling,

Director of the Counseling Program (Charlotte)

Dr. Vickey MaclinAssociate Director of Graduate Programs in Counseling (Charlotte)

Dr. Karen MasonProfessor of Counseling and Psychology,

Director of the Counseling Department (Hamilton)

Dr. Christopher CookAssistant Professor of Counseling

Dr. Angie KimAssistant Professor of Counseling


Faculty

Note: Pastoral Ministry Courses (Introduction to Pastoral Counseling and Healthy Relationships in Ministry) may be designed or taught by either counseling-specific faculty or faculty within the broader Division of Practical Theology.

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INTRODUCTION TO PASTORAL COUNSELING (PC 511) equips individuals in a variety of ministry and church settings to offer effective, short-term counseling and basic care from an integrative, pastoral perspective.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN MINISTRY (MC/PC 513) introduces students to pastoral self-awareness, relationship awareness, and understanding relational health for the purpose of cultivating personal and professional relationships for ministry effectiveness and personal and corporate spiritual development.

HELPING RELATIONSHIPS (CO 540) covers the theological ground for helping relationships, counseling theories and application for helping relationships, including skills in listening, attending, and empathy needed in consultation and bringing about change.

FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY (CO 614) reviews major theories of family systems development and emphasizes a critical analysis of these theories from an orthodox Christian perspective.

MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY IN COUNSELING (CO 712) provides an opportunity to develop sensitivity, insight, and multicultural awareness when conducting counseling with individuals and families. Strategies needed to work effectively with issues of race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status are addressed alongside a theological framework for developing self-awareness and engaging diversity.

COUNSELING ELECTIVES (SELECT ONE)

LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT (CO 610)CRISIS & TRAUMA COUNSELING (CO 625)SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS (CO 671) GROUP COUNSELING (CO 718)COUNSELING ADOLESCENTS (CO 725)COUNSELING FOR CRISIS & ADDICTIONS (CO 750)


Courses

PC*

513

PC511

CO540

CO614

CO712

...

*Some courses span multiple disciplines and therefore have multiple departments in their course code

(e.g. MC/PC 513). Where possible, we have highlighted the most relevant department.5

PC511

Introduction to Pastoral Counseling

Dr. Rodney CooperKenneth and Jean Hansen Professor of Discipleship

and Leadership Development

Note: Your instructor may vary depending on the term or location.

INTRODUCTION TO PASTORAL COUNSELINGThis course equips individuals in a variety of ministry and church settings to offer effective, short-term

counseling and basic care from an integrative, pastoral perspective. Students are expected to take an

active part in designing their own learning experience through the selection of topics to focus on

in a range of assignments related to the learning objectives. This course is designed to value critical

thinking, courteous dialogue, theological reflection, openness of expression, empathy toward others,

and honest interaction.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand and articulate a biblical and theological basis for pastoral counseling.

2. Explain several theoretical approaches to counseling that are compatible with a pastoral counseling model and describe their application in concrete counseling situations.

3. Identify and utilize key communication skills needed in the context of Christian care and pastoral counseling.

4. Create a personal philosophy of pastoral care and counseling that integrates theological, theoretical and personal elements into a concrete approach suitable for a specific ministerial context.

5. Understand and observe basic ethical principles applicable to the practice of pastoral counseling.

6. Explain the role culture plays in the counseling process and develop greater inter-cultural sensitivity needed for the practice of pastoral counseling.

7. Articulate principles of and formulate a personalized plan for self-care.

8. Identify and assess basic types of psychological problems encountered in the local church and determine proper steps for pastoral care and referral.

9. Explain the primary issues and pastoral care approaches needed for ministry to common presenting issues in congregational life such as depression, anxiety, anger management, abuse, marital problems and concerns regarding illness and death.

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PC*513

Healthy Relationships in Ministry



HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN MINISTRYAn introduction to pastoral self- and relational awareness, and understanding relational health for the

purpose of cultivating personal and professional relationships for ministry effectiveness and personal

and corporate spiritual development.


Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the nature of self-awareness as it intersects with one’s relationships with God and others.

2. Understand fundamental ways to increase self-awareness and develop a self-analysis strategy.

3. Understand the fundamental elements of healthy relationships, including relationships with family/friends, professional relationships, and relationships in community.

4. Understand relational boundaries, how they differ in personal and professional relationships, and be able to implement healthy relational boundaries.

5. Understand basic group interpersonal dynamics and their use in interpersonal interactions.

6. Understand and be able to implement basic conflict management principles.

7. Be able to recognize many types of relational dysfunction (borderline personality, codependency, narcissism, unhealthy attachment, etc.).

8. Be able to identify symptoms of relational wounds and understand principles for relational healing.

*Some courses span multiple disciplines and therefore have multiple departments in their course code

(e.g. MC/PC 513). Where possible, we have highlighted the most relevant department.7

CO540

Helping Relationships

Dr. Pam DavisAssociate Professor of Counseling, Director of the

Counseling Program at Charlotte


HELPING RELATIONSHIPSThis course covers the theological ground for helping relationships, counseling theories, and application

for helping relationships, including clinical skills in listening, attending, and empathy needed in

counseling and bringing about change.


Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate:

1. Basic dispositions necessary for helping relationships. Students should be aware of self and others, teachable, ethical, multiculturally sensitive, and relationally adept.

2. Skills necessary in helping relationships, including basic interviewing and observations skills and assessment of suicide risk.

3. Ethical and culturally relevant strategies for establishing and maintaining in-person and technology assisted relationships

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CO614

Family Systems Theory



FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORYThis course introduces both the theory and application of various family systems models to counseling.

Students will gain knowledge of each model’s assumptions, methods, strengths, and weaknesses.

Additionally, students will evaluate each model in relation to various biblical/theological understandings

of the purpose and functioning of families.


Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate personal awareness of their own family dynamics.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of individual, couple, family, group, and community strategies for working with and advocating for diverse populations, including multicultural competencies.

3. Demonstrate an understanding that will allow them to explain a systems perspective that provides an understanding of family and other systems theories and major models of family and related interventions.

4. Address and explain how they recognize the importance of family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

5. Integrate principles of biblical Christian standards related to family systems.

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CO712

Multicultural Diversity in Counseling

Dr. Vickey MaclinAssociate Director of Graduate Programs in

Counseling (Charlotte)


MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY IN COUNSELINGThis course provides a foundation for engaging issues of race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status,

religion, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status within a counseling context. A theological

framework for developing self awareness and engaging diversity will be emphasized, along with the

roles, structures, functions, systems, behaviors, values, and environmental factors that affect individual

and family systems.


Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate:

1. Understanding, sensitivity and respect of persons pertaining to culture, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, values, beliefs and other contextual factors.

2. Understanding of how issues of discrimination, racism, oppression, sexism, power and privilege impact the practice of professional counseling, including the helper’s role in promoting justice in a variety of human domains and reducing intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination.

3. Awareness of self as a person of culture and how this impacts others.

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Course Formats

COMMUNITY vs. RESIDENCYIn harmony with Christ’s example, we affirm that Christian discipleship happens in community.

Sometimes, the wise application of that truth is that you physically join our seminary community.

You enter into our community rhythms of study, worship, work and rest. We invite you to consider a

short-term (1 week) or long-term (2–4 year) “high-residency” seminary experience at our Hamilton

campus on the historic North Shore of Boston.

At other times, however, the proper application of Christian community is that you remain rooted to

your own local community. For this reason, our Charlotte, NC campus provides “low-residency” and

“no-residency” opportunities to engage our courses and enter into our seminary community.

RESIDENTIAL COURSES

Traditional, residential courses (weekday & weeknight) offered at our Hamilton and Boston campuses

WEEKEND COURSES

Friday night and Saturday courses available at our Charlotte and Jacksonville campuses.

ONLINE (SEMLINK)

Take seminary courses from anywhere in the world at your own schedule within the course term.

HIGHRESIDENCY

NORESIDENCY

LOWRESIDENCY

DIGITAL LIVE

Participate in live courses from anywhere in the world.

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Tuition & Fees

TUITION RATES (SUMMER 2020)This certificate applies an automatic scholarship of $450 per course.

Tuition Scholarship Cost

Per Credit Hour $ 700 $ 150 $ 550Per 3-Credit Course $ 2,100 $ 450 $ 1,650

× 6 Courses $ 12,600 $ 2,700 $ 9,900

SERVICES FEES (SUMMER 2020)

Fall / Spring $ 175 per semester

Summer $ 100 per semester

Semlink Fee $ 150 per course

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AdmissionsRequirements

Apply by May 12th for Summer CoursesThe application should take less then 10 minutes to complete.

1. SUPPLY BASIC PERSONAL INFORMATION

2. PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATE CREDENTIALS (GPA & TRANSCRIPT)

A bachelor’s degree is required* for admission into both a graduate certificate and master’s degree

program. You will be asked to self report your undergraduate GPA. You will be accepted provisionally

pending receipt of an official transcript, which must be received before completing your first full course.

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for admission. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 will also be asked

to supply a personal reference.

3. PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF INTENT

You will be asked to provide a brief statement (approximately 250 words) why you desire to complete

a certificate and how your studies will benefit your present or future ministry.

4. AFFIRM OUR COMMUNITY LIFE STATEMENT

In order to operate as a community, all faculty, staff, and students are required to affirm and abide by

our community life statement. You will be asked to assent to our statement as part of your application.

A P P L Y T O D A Y

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A P P L Y T O D A Y


Questions?Contact our friendly admissions team at:

[email protected]

OR

https://gordon-conwell.myvideointerview.co/38857-certificate/139603-general-information/en

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graduate certificate in lay counselinggraduate certificate in lay counseling 6 courses (18 credits)...

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