CNS531 Biblical Counseling Syllabus
LOGOS equivalent course numbers:
Undergraduate: CNS131 Biblical Counseling
Graduate: CNS531 Biblical Counseling
Course Description: This course teaches 44 of the most important principles in the Bible, counseling methods and techniques for their application, and how to construct counseling plans from biblical principles.
Text Book: Principles of Life: Using Biblical Principles to Bring Dynamic Psychological Healing by Dr. Reiner
Lesson 1: Principles of Biblical Change – Reviews the classical methods of Biblical counseling and introduces the Train of Psychological Wholeness based on Proverbs 3:5.
Lesson 2: Principles of the Will – Explains the principles of the will including free choice, lordship, commitment and repentance.
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Lesson 3: Principles of the Spirit – Gives an overview of nine aspects of the spiritual realm including salvation.
Lesson 4: Principles of the Mind – Discusses the principle of the mind and perceptions.
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Lesson 5: Principles of Needs – Explains how we are motivated and attempt to meet our basic psychological needs.
Lesson 6: Principles of Action – Provides a discussion of the factors that affect how we act, speak, and judge.
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Lesson 7: Principles of Experience – Discusses the critical importance of our experiences and the methods for dealing with the experiences and emotions in our lives.
Lesson 8: How to Build a Counseling Plan – Gives a step-by-step method for developing counseling plans based on the Train of Psychological Wholeness.
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Lesson 9: Counseling Plans for Common Problems – Presents examples of counseling plans for eight common problems.
Lesson 10: How to Counsel Using Biblical Principles – Provides a complete method for counseling using biblical principles.
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IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THIS COURSE YOU MUST COMPLETE THESE REQUIREMENTS.
1. First read and underline important passages and insights in the textbook Principles for Life.
2. Watch each video while referencing the book and take any additional notes not covered in the textbook. Prepare for the open book final examination.
3. Write a 3 page paper developing a new biblical principle not discussed in this book. Use a concordance, topical Bible, or computer program to gather verses. Use the same format as in the book and have at least 10 points and verses.
4. Write 5 page paper developing a counseling plan for a simple psychological problem. Use the forms provided and make sure to explain your problem and solution train. Provide a list of the steps you would take to counsel this problem.
5. For graduate credit students are required to write an additional 5 page paper developing a new Biblical counseling plan for a complex psychological problem. Make sure to justify your problem, solution, and the steps to your plan.
6. Take the open book test that will be E-mailed to you when you have submitted the papers. You may use your notes, book, or the DVDs for reference.
7. Submit your papers and final examination to Word of Life Institute for grading at treiner@wolm.org.
Book: Principles for Life by Dr. Reiner $18.99
Our world is full of hurting people. The Word of God is the answer but somehow attempts to apply biblical principles to bring psychological healing have fallen short of the deeper needs of many of these hurting people. This has been true for several reasons. Most models of biblical change have been limited to either confronting and demanding change, or acting and practicing new biblical ways of doing things. These methods do not deal with the entire person: will, spirit, past experiences, mind, perceptions, needs, motivation, actions, and emotions. They do not take into account the complexity of the human heart and the interactions between its members. This book addresses these problems through the use of the “Train of Psychological Wholeness,” a concept developed from Proverbs Chapter 3. It provides an understanding of a large number of these principles, a detailed method for developing counseling plans using biblical principles, and counseling methods and techniques for their application in order to bring about dynamic psychological healing.