Syllabus
MN 5522 Marriage and Family Counseling
Spring Semester, 2013
Instructor: Larry L. Cornine, EdD, PhD
Home Phone: 816.795.0612
Office Hours: By Arrangement
Email: LCornine@mbts.Edu
Cell Phone: 816.529.3811
Class Meeting: 8:00-12:25 T
(Break: 10-11 Chapel)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course equips students to identify and understand the causes of marriage and
family dysfunction and to select and apply treatment strategies to correct the
dysfunction.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
MN 5501 Counseling Theories suggested but not required.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able:
Objective 1: To identify various causes of marriage and family dysfunction
Objective 2: To diagnose accurately marriage and family dysfunction
Objective 3: To identify and apply evidence based treatment strategies to correct
marriage and family dysfunction
Indicator for Objective 1: The student demonstrates by written analysis of case
studies and through class discussion the ability to identify the causes (background
issues) that create relationship dysfunction within a marriage and a family.
Indicator for Objective 2: The student demonstrates by written analysis of case
studies and through class discussion the ability to identify the presenting symptoms of a
dysfunctional marriage and family.
Indicator for Objective 3: The student demonstrates by analyzing case studies and
through class discussion, the ability to select and apply appropriate evidence based
treatment strategies to correct dysfunctions within a marriage and a family.
FINAL GRADE
A
AB+
98-100%
96-97%
92-95%
BC+
C
1
85-87%
82-84%
73-81%
B
88-91%
C-
70-72%
REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Gilbert M, Roberta, M.D. The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory, A New Way of
Thinking About the Individual and The Group Leading Systems Press, 313 Park
Avenue, Suite308, Falls Church, Virginia 22046, 703 532-3823, www.hsystems.org
Note: Check the bookstore for copies. You may need to order directly from the
publisher.
2. Cornine, Larry L. EdD, PhD, Marriage Counseling Guide for Pastors. Didasko Inc,
P O Box 1945, Lee’s Summit, Mo 64063. Order directly from
www.didaskoministry.com
3. Cornine, Christopher K, PhD, Cornine, Larry L. EdD, PhD, How to Counsel Families
in Distress, Didasko Inc, P O Box 1945, Lee’s Summit, Mo 64063. Order directly
from www.didaskoministry.com
4. Healing The Wounds of Infidelity Through the Healing Power of Apology and
Forgiveness http://www.psybc.com/pdfs/library/HealingWoundsofInfidelity.pdf
GENERAL INFORMATION
This course equips the clinical counselor with skills to counsel individuals experiencing
marital and family distress. The equipping process includes two treatment models. One
model is Bowen’s Systemic concepts for identifying the origin marriage and family
problems. This is a popular approach used in secular and ministry clinical settings. The
second is the Didasko Model for diagnosing and treating marriage and family issues.
This model is a clinically descriptive and biblically prescriptive treatment process. Both
approaches equip the practitioner with skills to provide in either a ministry or private
clinical setting “standard of care” treatment for individuals in distressed marriage and
family situations.
Attendance is important and taken daily. Please be aware that the attendance policy
requires students to attend at least 75% of the class sessions to receive credit. Failure
to attend 75% of class sessions will result in the student receiving a failing grade for the
course. (See the Current Academic Catalog).
*NOTE: This is for accreditation purposes for the MBTS library.
The student turns in a separate bibliography of all books and articles consulted and
cited for producing the paper to include a copy of the paper title page.
2
Confidential Internet-Based Assessment of Learning for Each Classroom
Experience
To assist Midwestern in the on-going assessment of student learning and achievement,
students are asked to complete the confidential, internet-based assessment of learning
for each classroom experience. Course assessment(s) may be accessed at
https://portal.mbts.edu/student_portal/login.asp and are made available at the end of
each semester or term. Students have the option of completing the online course
assessment after the end of the semester or term and then being able to retrieve the
grade(s) for their course(s). Students who do not have internet access may obtain
access and/or assistance in Midwestern Library. Students having difficulty accessing
their online course information should contact Information Technology department at
(816) 414-3763 or helpdesk@mbts.edu.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Readings for the course are from three texts and one paper on an internet site. (See the
Required Texts of the syllabus). You are required to write a reading summary for each
chapter of the Gilbert text and a reading summary for each session in the Marriage
Guide and Family Guide. For each Bowen Concept, identify one scripture that you
believe supports the concept. The format for the Reading Summary follows the Course
Organization section of this syllabus. Submit your Reading Summary for each chapter
or session via BlackBoard by the date and time given. There are 10 points for each
summary. There is a 2-point deduction for each day after the deadline. There is a 50point midterm and final examination.
Date
In Class
Assignment
January 29
Review Syllabus
Questions
Introduction to Systems
Theory
Gilbert Text: The
Nuclear Family
Emotional System
Marriage Guide
Session 1
February 5
The Nuclear Family
Emotional System
Marriage Guide Session 1
Gilbert: Text
The Differentiation
of Self
Marriage Guide
Session 2
February 12
The Differentiation of Self
Gilbert: Text
3
Additional
Information
Complete Reading
Guides for Nuclear
Family Emotional
System and MG
Session 1 Due
February 4 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides for The
Differentiation of
Self
Marriage Guide
Session 2 Due
February 11 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Marriage Guide Session 2
Triangles
Marriage Guide
Session 3
February 19
Triangles
Marriage Guide Session 3
Gilbert Text: Cutoff
Marriage Guide
Session 4
February 26
Cutoff
Marriage Guide Session 4
Gilbert Text: Family
Projection Process
Marriage Guide
Session 5
March 5
Family Projection Process
Marriage Guide Session 5
Gilbert Text:
Multigenerational
Transmission
Process
Marriage Guide
Session 6
March 11-15 Spring Break
March 19
Multigenerational
Transmission Process
Marriage Guide Session 6
Gilbert Text: Sibling
Position
Marriage Guide
Session 7
March 26
Sibling Position
Marriage Guide Session 7
Gilbert Text:
Emotional Process
in Society
Marriage Guide
Session 8
April 2
Emotional Process in
Society
Marriage Guide Session 8
Marriage Guide
Session 9
Families In Distress
Session 1-2
4
Guides for The
Triangles
Marriage Guide
Session 3 Due
February 18 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Cutoff
Marriage Guide
Session 4 Due
February 25 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Family
Projection Process
Marriage Guide
Session 5 Due
March 4 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides
Multigenerational
Transmission
Process
Marriage Guide
Session 6 Due
March 18 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Sibling
Position
Marriage Guide
Session 7 Due
March 25 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Emotional
Process in Society
Marriage Guide
Session 8 Due April
1 by 11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Marriage
Guide Session 9
Families In Distress
April 9
Marriage Guide Session 9
Families In Distress Session
1-2
Marriage Guide
Session 10
Families In Distress
Session 3-4
April 16
Marriage Guide Session 10
Families In Distress Session
3-4
Marriage Guide
Session 11-12
Families In Distress
Session 5-6
April 23
Marriage Guide Session 1112
Families In Distress Session
5-6
Healing the Wounds of
Infidelity Through the
Healing Power of Apology
and Forgiveness
Marriage Guide
Session 13-14
Healing the
Wounds of Infidelity
Through the
Healing Power of
Apology and
Forgiveness
April 30
Marriage Guide Session 1314
Healing the Wounds of
Infidelity Through the
Healing Power of Apology
and Forgiveness
Marriage Guide
Session 15
Healing the
Wounds of Infidelity
Through the
Healing Power of
Apology and
Forgiveness
May 7
Marriage Guide 15
Healing the Wounds of
Infidelity Through the
Healing Power of Apology
and Forgiveness
May 13-16 Finals Week
5
Session 1-2 Due
April 8 by 11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Marriage
Guide Session 10
Families In Distress
Session 3-4 Due
April 15 by
11:58PM
Complete Reading
Guides: Marriage
Guide Session 1112
Families In Distress
Session 5-6 Due
April 22 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guide: Marriage
Guide Session 1314
Healing the
Wounds of Infidelity
Through the
Healing Power of
Apology and
Forgiveness Due
April 29 by
11:59PM
Complete Reading
Guide: Marriage
Guide Session 15
Healing the
Wounds of Infidelity
Through the
Healing Power of
Apology and
Forgiveness Due
May 6 by 11:59PM
READING GUIDE
Student Name _________________________
Name of Guide: Circle MG FD
MG= Marriage Counseling for Pastors FD= Families in Distress
Session # _____
Session Focus: _________________________________________________________
Three concepts that would help you in counseling
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
Select from the three listed the most important concept. # ______
Rationale for the selection ________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
READING GUIDE
EXAMPLE
Student Name John H. Counseling Student
Name of Guide: Circle
M
G
FD
MG= Marriage Counseling for Pastors FD= Families in Distress
Session # 8
Session Focus: Identifying Love Languages
Three concepts that would help you in counseling
1. There are many ways to show love
2. Everyone has a primary love language
3. Use of the primary love language is critical
Select from the three listed the most important concept. # 3
Rationale for the selection If you want your spouse to feel loved, identify his or her
primary love language and use it.
6
Bowen Concept
EXAMPLE
Student Name Mary M. Counseling Student
Concept: Triangulation
In order to understand triangulation, one must understand what a dyad is. A dyad is a
relationship between two family members. Bowen suggests that a dyad is an unstable
system. It is unstable because unresolved problems produce tension. In order to relieve
tension, one member of the dyad tells a third party about their relationship problems.
This is triangulation. Triangulation occurs when one person in a dyad talks with a third
party about their relationship problems. This relieves tension; however, it is unhealthy
for the dyad relationship.
Scripture: "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between
you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Matthew 18:15.
Within a systems context this scripture directs a person to speak first directly to their
counterpart rather than talking privately and secretly to a third party.
7