AmaZing Grace Biblical Seminary Erumelikkara, Kumarapuram (P. O) Aluva, Ernakulam. Kerala, India. Pin-683 565. Ph. 8547473926. ****************************************** INTRODUCTION TO THE PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the foundational principles, theological framework, and practical application of Pastoral Care and Biblical Counseling within the local church setting. It explores the role of the pastor as a counselor, distinguishing biblical counseling from secular models while emphasizing the inseparable connection between theology and counseling. Students will be equipped with essential skills for addressing personal, emotional, and spiritual issues in a biblically sound manner. Key topics include theological presuppositions, counseling methodologies, ethical considerations, and approaches to common counseling issues such as depression, grief, trauma, addiction, marriage problems, and abuse. The course aims to develop pastoral sensitivity and competency in providing Christ-centered care to individuals facing various life challenges. SCOPE: This course will cover issues related to the personal and social formation of the theological student and will impart basic skills in Biblical care and counseling in the setting of local congregation. Introductory course providing basic information, insights, techniques, and skills required for successful Biblical counseling. COURSE OBJECTIVES ( Upon completion of this course, having studied the textbooks, the Scripture, and finished the assignments, you should be able to: In general terms, what the student should know at the end of the course) To help the student understand the significant of Biblical counseling. To help the student understand the inseparable connection of theology and counseling. To provide a comprehensive theological foundation and framework for the practice of counseling. To challenge the student to build his/her own counseling methods and strategies on solid, biblical theology. To demonstrate the incredible practicality of good theology. To confirm and illustrate the fact that many, perhaps most, counseling problems usually involve and are reflective of bad theology. To train the student to make theological thinking about people, their problems and the solution to those problems a habit pattern. To encourage the student to evaluate and assess whether his/her own approach to helping people is really a reflection of and consistent with his/her professed theological convictions. To give the student the opportunity to do some research and critical thinking on a particular aspect of theology and its relationship to counseling. To equip each student to be a more astute theologian and better counselor in the church of Jesus Christ. Course Requirements: Reading Assignments - Students must read based on the syllabus and study assigned secondary sources. Class Presentations - Students will present some topics Reflection Papers - Two short papers (3-5 pages) Final Exam - A comprehensive exam covering the syllabus COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Class Participation 5% Reading Report 20% Main Term Paper/Assignment 15% Final Examination 60% COURSE CONTENT Introduction Definition of Biblical/Pastoral Counseling. Purpose of Biblical Counseling. The differences of biblical counseling from secular counseling. Biblical and Historical background of Biblical Counseling. Four Constructive Christian counseling (views}models. Basic Presuppositions and Varying Methodology Basic Theological Presuppositions In Biblical Counseling Basic for biblical counseling. The nature of counseling philosophies. Some general principles and practice in counseling. Dealing with Frequent Issues such as; Counseling People Who Are Depressed Counseling People with Sexual Misconduct Situations Counseling People Who have Major Illness and Injuries Situations Counseling People Who Are Stressed and Angry Counseling People Who Have Unresolved Guilt and Loneliness Counseling People Who Have Marital Problems and Divorce Situations Counseling People Who Are Experiencing Grief and Trauma Counseling Where there is Domestic Violence and Abuse Counseling People Who are in special situations like Alcohol and Drugs addiction, Victims of socio-cultural and economic oppression, and suicidal. A Biblical counseling procedure. Bibliography: Arnold, William V. Introduction to Pastoral Care. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1982. Berne, Eric. Games People Play. London: Andre Deutsch, 1966. Brister, C.W. The Promise of Counselling. New York: Harper and Row, 1978. Browning, Don S. The Moral Context of Pastoral Care. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976. Browning Don S. Religious Ethics and Pastoral Care. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983 Campbell, Alastair V. Rediscovering Pastoral Care .London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1981. ______________. Paid to Care? The Limits of Professionalism in Pastoral Care. London: SPCK, 1985. Capps, Donald. Biblical Approaches to Pastoral Counselling. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1981 ______________. Life Cycle Theory and Pastoral Care. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1983. ______________. Pastoral Care: A Thematic Approach. Louisville: Westminster Press, 1979. Clebsch, William A & Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective. New York: Harper and Jackle, Charles R. Row, 1967 Clinebell, Howard J. Basic Types of Pastoral Counseling. .Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1966 Egan, Gerard. Skilled Helper. Monterey, CA: Brooks Cole. Pub.Co., 1975. Erikson, Erik. Childhood and Society. New York: Norton, 1963. Frankl, Viktor. Man`s Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press, (1947), 1963. Freud, Sigmund. A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis. New York: Washington Square Press, Inc. Glasser, William. Reality Therapy: A New Approach to Psychiatry. New York: Harper and Row, 1975. Hall, Calvin S., & Gardner Lindacy Theories of Personality 2nded. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1970. Hiltner, Seward. & Lowell G. Colsten The Context of Pastoral Counselling .Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1961. ______________. Christian Shepherd: Some Aspects of Pastoral Care. New York: Abingdon Press, 1959. Hulme, William E. Pastoral Care and Counseling. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1981. Jung, Carl. Memories, Dreams, Reflections.(Recorded and edited by Aniela Jaffe), New York: Vintage Books, 1965. Kelsy, Mortion T. Healing and Christianity in Ancient thought and Modern Times .New York: Harper and Row, 1976. Kemp, Charles F. Pastoral Counseling Guidebook. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1971. Kennedy, Eugene. Becoming a Counsellor. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1977. McNill, John T. A History of the Cure of Souls. New York: Harper and Row, 1951. Oates, Wayne E. Pastoral Counselling. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1974. ______________(Ed.) Introduction to Pastoral Counselling. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1959. Perls, Frederick S. Gestalt Therapy Verbatim. Lafayette, CA: Real People Press, 1979. ______________.et.al. Gestalt Therapy. New York: Delhi Pub. Co., 1951. Prashantham, B J. Indian Case Studies in Therapeutic Counselling. Vellore: Christian Counselling Centre, 1984. Pruyser, Paul. The Minister as Diagnostician .Philadelphia: The Westminister Press. 1976. Rogers, Carl R. Client-Centered Therapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1965. ______________. On Becoming a Person .Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1961 Skinner, B. F. About Behaviourism. New York: Vintage Books, 1974. William, Daniel D. The Minister and the Cure of Souls. New York: Harper, 1961. Wise, Carroll A. Meaning of Pastoral Care .New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1966. ______________ Pastoral Counseling: Its Theory and Practice. New York: Harper and Row, 1951. ______________ Modern Man in Search of a Soul. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1933. ____________________