Course Catalog

PSY461E Fundamentals of Counseling (3 credits) 9523

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An analysis of the major theories and approaches to counseling, correlating them with counterpart theories of personality and learning. Each major theory will be dealt with in light of biblical revelation. As a result, the student is encouraged to formulate a tentative theory of counseling consistent with biblical truth.

LEARNING RESULTS
Students who pass PSY 461 will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of a worldview and its impact on a person's life and counseling.
• Develop a biblical understanding of various theological concepts and their implications for the counselor and counseling process.
• Understand the role of the counselor in the counseling process.
• Understand the characteristics of an effective counselor.
• Utilize the internet to learn about counseling organizations and resources.
• Develop a personal theory of counseling.
• Think critically about the various approaches to counseling.
• Become familiar with specific techniques and approaches for counseling.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
• Collins, G.R. (1993). The Biblical Basis of Christian Counseling for People Helpers. Colorado Springs, CO: New Press.
• Corey, G.R. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 7th ed. Belmont, CA : Brooks/Cole.

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INTEGRATION OF FAITH AND LEARNING
The integration of faith and learning occurs in this course as various theories of counseling are examined in light of God's Word. Important scriptural concepts are discussed and their implications to the field and practice of counseling are examined. In the end, the student is asked to develop a tentative theory of counseling that is consistent with Biblical truth.

LEARNING DOCUMENTATION
To determine if the course learning results have been attained, students document their learning by submitting the following items:

Assignment #1 Introduction
Assignment #2 God, Human Nature, Sin, Christ, and
Counseling
Assignment #3 The Holy Spirit, supernatural agents,
guilt and forgiveness, the church, and counseling
Assignment #4 Basic Concepts in Counseling
Assignment #5 Psychoanalytic Therapy
Assignment #6 Adlerian Therapy
Assignment #7 Existential Therapy
Assignment #8 Person-Centered Therapy
Assignment #9 Gestalt Therapy
Assignment #10 Transactional Therapy
Assignment #11 Behavior Therapy
Assignment #12 RET and other Cognitive-Behavioral
Approaches
Assignment #13 Reality Therapy
Assignment #14 Building an Integrative Personal
Theory of Counseling
3 papers
1 report
3 exams

There are 14 lessons, 3 papers, 1 report and 3 examinations for this course.

LEARNING EVALUATION
Evaluation is based on a point system.
• Assignment #1 - #8, #13, and #14 are worth 1.1 points each.
• Assignment #9 - #12 are each worth 1 point.
• Paper #1 is 10 points, #2 is worth 5 points, and #3 is worth 20 points.
• The report is worth 5 points.
• Each exam is worth 15 points.