Charles W. Dickens, Ph.D BC101HO Pastoral Counseling (2Hrs) WSC #322 (214 874-4406; cdickens@dts.edu) Dallas Theological Seminary Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm 1/19, 2/9, 3/2, 4/13 BC101HO PASTORAL COUNSELING SYLLABUS I. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed to consider the special issues associated with Christian counseling for individual, marital and family needs. This course will help the student to develop a mature understanding of him/herself as a Christian counselor/pastoral counselor and to develop effectiveness as a counselor in the local church. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES A. The student will learn general counseling principles applicable for the local church based on the integration of theological and psychological foundations. B. The student will practice basic counseling skills for Christian counseling. C. The student will explore personal life issues that may influence counselor effectiveness. D. The student will examine a short-term structured model specifically for pastoral counseling. E. The student will examine models and methodology for counseling individuals, couples and families. F. The student will acquire expertise in specific problem areas commonly experienced by pastoral counselors. III. COURSE TEXTBOOKS A. Required Barnes, M. Craig. The Pastor as Minor Poet. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. Benner, David. Care of Souls: Revisioning Christian Nurture and Counsel. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. Benner, David. Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-term Structured Model. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003. Note: One additional text will be required reading from the ten-volume counselor s library series based on David Benner s model of Strategic Pastoral Counseling by Baker Books. Purchase of any of the books from this series will not be required. B. Suggested Insight for Living. Counseling Insights: Volume I & Volume II. Clinton, Timothy & Ohlschlager, George (Eds.), Competent Christian Counseling: Foundations & Practice of Compassionate Soul Care, Vol. I. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2002. Moon, Gary & Benner, David, (Eds.). Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004. C. Supplementary Bibliography Benner, David & Hill, Peter (Eds.), Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling, 2 nd Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999. Hunter, Rodney (Ed.), Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990.
BC101HO Pastoral Counseling 2 IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Note: Further explanation for all assignments will be given in class. A. Reading Assignments Read the assigned materials (required texts). (Learning Objectives A, F) B. Quizzes and/or Exams There will be no quizzes or exams. C. Written Assignments (papers, journals, study exercises, charts, etc.) 1. Application Project: Each student will explore the nature of change and engage in the process of changing a personal behavior that constricts their spiritual health and growth. This project will be a structured reflection on your involvement in a current change exercise that will be explained at the beginning of the course. The particular application may be in the area of your choosing. The application project should be experiential and interactional for a minimum of one 1 hour of exercise or change lab per week, with a total of 10 change labs per semester. Each weekly change lab may be divided into any combination of 60 minutes of individual reflection and interpersonal interaction. After engaging in this experience throughout the length of this course, write a reflection paper for yourself (do not turn in) with the following outline: 1) What did I gain from this structured change process; 2) What were my barriers to change during this process; 3) How would I improve my change process in the future; (Learning Objectives C & E) Report only two things on the Course Requirements Recording Form: a) number of completed change labs b) did you write and read your 3 point paper. 2. Audio-Taped Interviews and Written Summaries of the interviews: Each student will: 1) conduct a 30 minute interview with an individual that you believe demonstrates healthy family and social relationships; 2) conduct a 30 minute interview with a couple or family that you believe demonstrates healthy family relationships; and 3) write a one-page written evaluation of one of your interviews and a one-page written evaluation of one of the interviews of another student. (Learning Objectives B & E) 3. PPT Presentation: Each student will select one of the 10 volumes from the Strategic Pastoral Counseling Resources series depicting 10 of the commonly presented problems for pastoral counseling: addictive behavior, anger, depression, forgiveness, grief & trauma, guilt & shame, marital stress, parenting issues, sexual issues, and worry. Each student will prepare and present a 20 minute powerpoint workshop as though they were leading a professional training for pastors in the Strategic Pastoral Counseling Model applied to their particular topic. No paper will be turned in for this assignment. Each student s powerpoint presentation will be uploaded on the course website for all students of the class to download for future use. Houston students may use alternative resources. (Learning Objectives A, B, D & F) 4. Care of Souls and Pastor as Minor Poet Personal Response Paper: Each student will write a response paper after reading these required texts. Students will: 1) explain the thesis of each author; 2) identify their personal top take away from each author; and 3) explain how each author will impact change in their personal ministry in the future (minimum of 5 pages for each book). (Learning Objectives A & C)
BC101HO Pastoral Counseling 3 V. COURSE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Please contact the course professor directly around class time or by appointment, by phone or email for any supplemental information needed. DTS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the operation of any of its programs and activities. To avoid discrimination the student is responsible for informing the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities and the course instructor of any disabling condition that will require modifications. VI. COURSE POLICIES D. Letter/Numerical Grade Scale A+ 99-100 B+ 91-93 C+ 83-85 D+ 75-77 F 0-69 A 96-98 B 88-90 C 80-82 D 72-74 A- 94-95 B- 86-87 C- 78-79 D- 70-71 E. Weighing of Course Requirements for Grading The final grade for this class will be assigned in the following manner: #1: Application Project 20% Due: April 13 #2: Interviews and Summaries 20% Due: April 13 #3: PPT Presentation 40% Due: April 13 #4: Reading & Response Paper 20% Due: April 13 F. Class Participation Students are encouraged to participate in class discussion. This participation will not be a part of the student s evaluation for a course grade. G. Late Assignments Assignments will be expected by the due date. Exceptions should be addressed to the professor in advance of the due date. Late assignments are accepted and graded according to the student handbook guidelines. H. Absences Students are expected to attend and participate in all classes. Absences should be taken only for important and necessary reasons. All students are allowed four absences without grade reduction. Each unexcused absence beyond the limit will receive a reduction of the final grade of 4% according to the student handbook guidelines. Exceptions must be approved by the professor. Total absences for the semester must be reported at the end of the student s Final Position Paper.
BC101HO Pastoral Counseling 4 VII. COURSE LECTURES AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE Date Lecture Topic Assignments Due 1/19 Course Introduction Integration Model for Counseling-Foundations Care of Souls Interdisciplinary & Intradisciplinary Integration Integration Model for Counseling-Foundations, Historical Developments, Present Approaches Spiritual Direction and the Care of Soul & Practices Pastor as Minor Poet Application Project Barnes book 2/09 Integration Model for Counseling-Application Individuals, Couples & Families Theological-Psychological Models Methodology: Conceptual Models Techniques: Concrete Strategies #1. Addictive Behavior #2. Anger #3. Depression Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-term Structured Model PowerPoint Presentations 1-3 3/02 #4. Forgiveness #5. Grief & Trauma #6. Guilt & Shame #7. Marital Stress 4/13 #8. Parenting Issues #9. Sexual Issues #10. Worry PowerPoint Presentations 4-7 PowerPoint Presentations 8-10
BC101HO Pastoral Counseling 5 VIII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS REPORTING FORM (Complete and turn in as top sheet with all course work to professor on last day of class 4/13, or email to Ashley Flores at aflores@dts.edu DUE- 4/13/13). Student Name: Box Number: The final grade for this class will be assigned based on percentage of each requirement completed as well as quality of work. Date Percent Weight of Completed Completed Assignment Grade Reading & Response Paper 20% Application Project Number of Labs 20% Reflection Paper PPT Presentation Project 40% Audio Interview & Summary Paper 20% Total Absences Total Classes Total Hours Final Grade for Course: