It has been on my heart for a long time to make lay counselor training available for those in the church who regularly come in contact with hurting people and have a need to integrate sound doctrine with proven methods that are consistent with God's word.
The counselor training classes will blend the best of all learning opportunities by incorporating didactic teachings, video, small group interaction, role playing and demonstrations.
Participants will be challenged to grow spiritually, emotionally and relationally. The goal of the training is to fan the flame of the gifts that lie within each of us, to personally grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and become more useful vessels in His hands.
Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free...
Are you called?
Do you....
- Come into contact with hurting people through your job or church ministry?
- Have a desire to share God's word in a way that brings hope and healing?
- Work in a helping or leadership capacity that requires a level of counseling skill?
- Desire a more intimate walk with the Lord?
- Want to become a more effective minister of God's grace?
- Have spiritual gifts in the area of teaching, wisdom, knowledge or shepherding?
- Enjoy discipling others?
Training will include…
- Video training by nationally recognized professional Christian counselors
- Discussion and case work
- Role playing/experiential exercises
- Practice counseling skills within the group setting
- Guest Speakers
Participants must have…
- A recommendation from their pastor
- Be a member in good standing with their church
- Involved in church ministry at some level
- Preferably have personally experienced the benefits of counseling
- Agree with the statement of faith
Cost of Training
This course is being offered for the building up of the body of Christ and the equipping of the holy ones. We simply ask that you would earnestly pray about attending and what if anything the Spirit might encourage you to give financially towards your equipping.
Module 1 - The Helping Process: Developing Helping Skills
- Using the Bible and Relying on the Holy Spirit
- Spiritual Disciplines: Taking People Closer to the Heart of God
- Creating a Safe Place: Listening empathy, Winning Trust
- Change Skills: Goal Setting, Planning and Taking Action
- Doing Brief Solution -focused Counseling for Christ
- Boundaries and Violations: Confidentiality, Consultation and Referral
Module 2: Spiritual Warfare and Mental Illness
- Breaking Free: Disaffection with God, life and recovery
- Bondage and Spiritual Warfare: Fighting Wickedness in High Places
- When Life Doesn’t Make Sense: Facing Evil, Sin and Suffering
- Spiritual Freedom: Disarming Strongholds, Changing Habits
- Freedom in Christ: Hope for the Addict, the Broken-hearted and Evil- minded
- Mental Illness and Character Disorders: Recognizing and Referring Serious Problems
Module 3: Understanding and Overcoming Mood Disorders and Addictions
- Depression and Mood Disorders: A Clinical Update
- Stress and Anxiety: Overcoming Fear, Phobias and Panic Disorder
- Helping Others with Addictions
- Overcoming Gambling, spending and credit card abuse
- Complicated Grief and Crisis and Trauma
- Eating Disorders: Diagnosis, Treatment and referral with Anorexia and Bulimia
Module 4: Families and Relationships
- Chronically Troubled Relationships
- Helping Distressed Couples: Anger, Conflict and Disaffection
- Families in Crisis: Hopeless Parents and Angry/Defiant Children
- Aging and the elderly: Health problems, Dementias and Disabilities
- Blended Families: Helping Yours, Mine and Ours Become a Family
- Emotional Eating: The Truth about Weight Control
Module 5: Effective Helping Ministry in the Church
- Developing and Effective Lay Helping and Supervision Ministry
- Dynamic Small Groups and Spiritual Care Teams
- Preventing Compassion Fatigue: Self Care for Caregivers
- Living Life with Your Whole Heart
- Fresh Start: getting out of the Rut and Into the God Zone
- Boundaries and Violations: Seductive, Suicidal and Dangerous People
