Christian Counseling is a much neglected discipline. And yet everyone looks to church leaders for guidance and counsel. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all called:  to love (Jn 13), to be devoted to (Ro 12), to live in harmony with (Ro 12), to accept (Ro 15), to encourage (2Co 13, 1Th 5, Heb 3), to serve (Gal 5), to bear with (Eph 4), to be kind and compassionate to (Eph 4), to submit to (Eph 5), to forgive (Col 3), to teach and admonish (Col 3), etc…  So this is not only for leaders, but this class will help all of us to be better equipped to carry out God’s call for us in our relationships with one another.  Learn the ABCs of pastoral counseling--when to advise and when to refer, working with professionals when necessary. Learn about Family Systems and other invaluable approaches. This short course aims to equip us to equip the body of Christ to be "competent to counsel." When is a condition a medical matter, and when is the issue "unrepented sin"? Should we ever advise church members to come off their medication? What should we do when the thin line between responsibility and victimization seems tenuous at best? Learn from Drs. Mike and Mary Shapiro, clinical psychologists with extensive experience in counseling and forensic psychology. Counseling is not an option; it is a crucial area of ministerial training.

Material:

1. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life (Grand Rapids:  Zondorvan, 1992).
2. Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Church (Grand Rapids, Zondorvan, 2003) or The Emotionally Healthy Church, Expanded Edition:  A Strategy for Discipleship That actually Changes Lives (2010).

Additional Info:

• 2 tracks:  audit and certificate
• Audit
• Recommend to read/listen/watch the required material
• Option to listen in on the live classes/discussions and participation in Q&A of live sessions
• Choose the core classes you’d like to participate in
• Certificate
• Required to read/listen/watch the required material and turn in your log and notes.
• Participate in bi-weekly classes/discussions.
• Mandatory completion of assignments/essays/tests.
• Option to go through additional recommended material.
• Cost Structure
• Certificate Track
• $150 per class
• $75 for students/teens
• Upon satisfactory completion of the class, you will be given a $25 credit for the next class
• Audit Track
• $75 per class ($25 discount for spouse if both sign up for the class)
• $25 for students/teens