Advanced Topics and Practices of Biblical Counselling
PC159-712/812/912
EVERY SEMESTER
Lecturer
Edward Welch (lectures recorded at PTC), Karl Hood (tutor)
Is this unit for you?
This unit contributes to enhancing your professional and vocational formation by focussing on advanced issues and ‘problem areas’ in biblical counselling. Take this unit if you want to build on the conceptual framework provided by Pastoral Skills (PC002) and the skills taught in Pastoral Skills and Methods (PC003).
What you will learn
This subject compares and contrasts current Christian counselling approaches with progressive biblical counselling, and explains the systematics and biblical theology of counselling. Students are equipped for pastoral ministry in various circumstances, and undertake an in-depth study of a specific problem area of pastoral counselling.
This unit requires listening to lectures delivered by Ed Welch at PTC Melbourne in 2011; some set reading with a written reading report and tutorial presentation; a pastoral counselling analysis and ministry plan for a literature based case study; and an essay on a particular problem area.
Unit content
Section A: Advanced topics of biblical counselling (30%)
- Advanced biblical counselling perspectives on biblical studies, theology, and diverse scholarship and practice.
- Biblical counselling and contemporary Christian counselling models critically compared and critiqued.
- Research-driven evaluation of current and emerging trends in biblical counselling.
- Biblical counselling in pastoral, church, and para-church ministry and practice settings.
- Equipping others for biblical counselling with a priesthood of all believers model.
Section B: Biblical counselling in problem areas (70%)
At least eight of the below or similar as approved by the field moderator, including, for level 9 students, at least three of those listed as level 9:
- Childhood abuse (level 9)
- Trauma (level 9)
- Psychotic disorders (level 9)
- Personality disorders such as narcissistic, sociopathic or borderline (level 9)
- Autism spectrum disorders or social communication disorder (level 9)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder or religious scrupulosity (level 9)
- Dementia (level 9)
- Domestic violence (including spousal abuse or elder abuse)
- Depression (including severe major depression or postnatal depression)
- Burnout (including ministry burnout)
- Licentiousness
- Low self-image
- Other identity issues
- Anger
- Anxiety, fear, and anxiety disorders
- Guilt
- Shame
- Legalism
- Conflict
Delivery
- Online recordings
- Essays and assignments
KEY TEXTS
- E. L. Johnson (ed.), Psychology and Christianity: Five Views, 2nd edn (Downers Grove: IVP, 2010).
- David A. Powlison, The Biblical Counselling Movement (Greensboro: New Growth Press, 2010).
