SYLLABUS FOR
CO741 COUNSELING PRACTICUM I
REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY – CHARLOTTE
FALL 2015
REV. B. GABRIEL (GABE) SYLVIA
gsylvia@christcovenant.org
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides opportunities to develop as a biblical counselor. CO741 focuses on the
counselor. While giving the student the opportunity to understand and practice the process of
biblical counseling, this course will help the student’s counseling self-awareness so that he might
be a more effective disciple of Christ and servant of the Lord’s people.
Course Objectives
1) To understand the importance of being a “counseled counselor” in the following areas:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Personal calling and assessment
Worldview
Spiritual formation
Prayer
Suffering
2) To reinforce and practice the relevance and sufficiency of the Holy Spirit, the local church
and the Bible in counseling.
3) To locate and develop a biblical counseling praxis including:
a. Developing a data interpretative framework for entering into people’s lives
b. Developing tools for use in counseling.
c. Developing a process for homework.
4) To be able to identify, decipher, retool and enter into secular counseling language.
5) To counsel and be counseled.
REQUIRED READING: (approx. 600 pp.) Please note due dates for each reading in syllabus.
1. Spiritual formation
C.H. Spurgeon, “The Minister’s Self-Watch” and “The Minister’s Fainting Fits” in
Lectures to My Students (19 pp.)
The Chapel Library: Free Grace Broadcasters, “Hope” (#186) OR “Thankfulness”
(#190); (http://www.chapellibrary.org/broadcaster/fgb-index/)
2. Worldview
David F. Wells, Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church must recover its moral vision, Wm.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998, introduction, chapters 2-4 (113 pp.)
3. Prayer
Eric Alexander, Prayer: A Biblical Perspective, Banner of Truth Trust, 2012 (91 pp.)
4. Suffering
1
Thomas Watson, All Things for Good, Banner of Truth Trust (127 pp.)
Mark Deckard, Helpful Truth in Past Places, Mentor (Christian Focus), 2009 (208 pp.)
5. Praxis
Powlison, David. “How Healthy is Your Preparation?” JBC 14.3, page 2-5 (4 pp.)
Powlison, David. “How Does Scripture Change You?” JBC 26.2, pages 26-32 (7 pp.)
Tripp, Paul David. “Speaking Redemptively” JBC 16.3, 10-18 (9 pp.)
Mack, Wayne. “Developing a Helping Relationship with Counselees” JBC 13.1, 5-12 (8
pp.)
Lane, Timothy. “Walking the Razor’s Edge of Truth and Love in Personal Ministry”
JBC 22.1, 57-69 (13 pp.)
The following additional books are recommended for the practice of biblical counseling:
1. Marshall and Mary Asher, The Christian’s Guide to Psychological Terms, Focus
Publishing, 2004
2. Stuart Scott and Heath Lambert, eds., Counseling the Hard Cases, Broadman and
Holman, 2012.
3. Packer, J. I. Concise Theology, Tyndale House Publishers
4. Subscription to the Journal of Biblical Counseling
REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION:
1. “Me: A Counselor” collection of introspective essays: the student will write one-page
answers to prompt concerning him as a biblical counselor.
Intent: to have the counselor explore his motives and conduct in counseling.
2. Weekly in-class Case Studies
N.B. All students must be prepared to role play each week. There will be at least two
participants each week.
Written evaluations should be completed by Friday COB of the current week, the student
will email case study evaluations from that week’s class period to
gsylvia@christcovenant.org.
Evaluations must identify:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Presenting problem with possible practical suggestions
Deeper issues, heart idols or motivations to explore
Doctrines and scripture passages that you would assign for study or reading
Brief assessment of whether the issues were more about covenant character or
conduct
Intent: to provide the counselor the opportunity to make real-time evaluations on a
counseling case study session.
3. Counseling Dyad: for the final examination grade, the student will submit a dyad
counseling report.
Intent: to provide a hands-on counseling situation that closely emulates a church case.
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4. Counseling paperwork packet: the student will create the following for turn-in:
a. Homework record sheet
b. “Progress Notes” (or session record sheets)
c. “Intake” paperwork (including at least: personal data form, honesty covenant,
informed consent, parental consent, confidentiality agreement)
d. Visuals
Intent: to introduce the counselor to some of the administrative requirements of effective
and professional biblical counseling.
5. Scripture Application Papers: the student will submit one-page application papers per the
syllabus on the following passages of Scripture as they pertain to biblical counseling:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11
Psalm 131
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Judges 2:16-23
Galatians 6:6-10
1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6-8
Matthew 5:2-11
1 Thessalonians 5:14
N.B. Though these must be exegetically sound papers, they are meant to be application
papers whose focus is on assisting a counselee understand and apply a passage of
Scripture in a way consistent with gospel ministry. The papers will have three sections:
(a) “What does the text say?” (observation) (b) “What does it mean?” (interpretation) and
(c) “What does it matter?” (application).
Intent: to help consider biblical texts in light of the counseling / discipleship mandate of
Luke 9:23-26.
6. Psychological Lexicon “translation” Papers: the student will write per the syllabus a onepage “translation” paper in which he will: (a) demonstrate an understanding of current
secular use of the term, (b) what it may describe biblically and (c) how to speak to (with
or against) it in counseling:
The following terms are mandatory:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Mental illness
Disorder
Abuse
Addiction
The student will choose two from the list or suggest his own terms:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Alcoholics Anonymous / Celebrate Recovery
ADHD
OCD
Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia
Bi-polar disorder
Schizophrenia
3
Intent: to give the counselor experience in translation from a psychological to a biblical
paradigm.
7. Reading: the student will complete all assigned reading per the schedule on the syllabus.
Intent: to introduce the counselor to resources that will assist his biblical counseling
ministry.
8. Class attendance and discussion: You will be expected to attend every class in order to
participate. Unexcused absences will adversely affect your final grade. Please be on
time.
Intent: so I can see you, so you can learn and so others can learn!
9. Grades:
The following assignments are Pass / Fail:
Counseling Paperwork Packet
Class participation
Reading
5%
5%
10 %
The following will be given letter grades:
Case study participation and evaluation
“Me: A Counselor” essays
Scripture application papers
Weekly “translation” assignments
Dyad counseling (final)
10 %
10 %
20 %
20 %
20 %
N.B. Full credit depends on timely submission. Each late day deducts ½ letter grade.
10. Contact. I will be available after class to discuss assignments, case studies, the
counseling dyad or any other item. If you desire to meet outside of class then you should
contact me at 704-708-6168 to set up an appointment.
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CO741– Counseling Practicum 1, Fall 2015
Location: TBD, Wednesdays 2-4 p.m.
Date
1
Lesson
8/19/2015
Personal
"Me, A
Counselor"
Process
Praxis
2
Case Study
Reading Due
Assignments
Due
Orientation, syllabus
and introduction
“What kind of
counselor are you:
prophet, priest or
king?”
Personal calling to
Disciple
The Counseling
Process: overview
"Good" counseling:
Mark 8:34-35 (Luke
9:23-26)
Expectations
8/26/2015
Personal
"Me, A
Counselor"
Scripture
Application
Paper: 2
Corinthians 1:311
"What are your biases
or prejudices?"
Personal calling to
Counsel
The Counseling
Process: the Approach
Process
Praxis
3
Case Study
Powlison, David.
“How Does Scripture
Change You?” JBC
26.2, pages 26-32 (7
pp.)
Lexicon
Intake paperwork:
record keeping
Family
9/2/2015
Personal
Process
"Me, A
Counselor"
"How do you handle
God's severe
providence?"
Spiritual formation:
the power of your own
walk with the Lord in
the lives and service of
others
The Counseling
Process: "What's he
saying?" Data
collection
Listening & question
asking
C.H. Spurgeon, “The
Minister’s SelfWatch” and “The
Minister’s Fainting
Fits” in Lectures to My
Students (19 pp.)
Scripture
Application
Paper: Psalm 131
Lexicon
translation paper:
"mental illness"
5
Praxis
4
Case Study
9/9/2015
Personal
"Me, A
Counselor"
Praxis
Case Study
"Me, A
Counselor"
The Chapel Library:
Free Grace
Broadcaster “Hope”
(#186) OR
“Thankfulness” (#190)
Scripture
Application
Paper: Judges
2:16-23
Forgiveness
Praxis
"What are you like as
a: sinner?" (interview)
The Counseling
Process: "What does
he mean?" Data
sorting
Covenant Conduct II
Process
Case Study
Sovereignty
"Me, A
Counselor"
"What are you like as
a: sufferer?"
(interview)
Lexicon
translation paper:
"disorder"
9/23/2015
Personal
Praxis
Mark Deckard,
Helpful Truth in Past
Places, Mentor
(Christian Focus),
2009 (208 pp.)
The Counseling
Process: "What does
he mean?" Data
sorting
Covenant Character I
Process
7
Scripture
Application
Paper: 2
Corinthians
5:16-21
9/16/2015
Personal
6
"What are you like as
a: saint?" (interview)
Powlison, David.
“How Healthy is Your
Preparation?” JBC
14.3, page 2-5 (4 pp.)
The Counseling
Process: "What does
he mean?" Data
sorting
Covenant Conduct I
Process
5
Endurance
Case Study
Self-Image
"Me, A
Counselor"
"What do you do when
people don't listen to
you?"
Scripture
Application
Paper: Galatians
6:6-10
Lexicon
translation paper:
"abuse"
9/30/2015
Personal
Lexicon
translation paper:
"addiction"
The Counseling
Process: "What does
he mean?" Data
sorting
Covenant Character II
Process
Praxis
Mack, Wayne.
“Developing a
Helping Relationship
with Counselees” JBC
13.1, 5-12 (8 pp.)
Case Study
Marriage
6
8
10/7/2015
10/14/2015
Personal
Fall Break
No CO741
"Me, A
Counselor"
"What are your
expectations of those
closest to you?"
Process
Praxis
9
Case Study
"Me, A
Counselor"
Process
Praxis
Case Study
Scripture
Application
Paper: 1
Thessalonians
5:14
"What lies buried in
your past or your heart
that you won't
address?
Community in
counseling: assistance
and authority
Counseling
Confidentiality
Love
"Me, A
Counselor"
"What are the reasons
you counsel?"
Case Study
Visuals for use in
counseling
Overeating
Process
Praxis
Eric Alexander,
Prayer: A Biblical
Perspective, Banner of
Truth Trust, 2012 (91
pp.)
Lexicon
translation paper:
student choice
Lane, Timothy.
“Walking the Razor’s
Edge of Truth and
Love in Personal
Ministry” JBC 21.3,
57-69 (13 pp.)
Scripture
Application
Paper: Matthew
5:2-11
Tripp, Paul David.
“Speaking
Redemptively” JBC
Scripture
Application
Paper: 1 Samuel
11/4/2015
Personal
"Me, A
Counselor"
Process
Praxis
12
Counseling
Paperwork
Packet
10/28/2015
Personal
11
The Counseling
Process: "What does it
matter?" Instruction
Prioritizing and
proceeding patiently
Work
Counseling Dyad
transcript
N.B. switch roles
10/21/2015
Personal
10
Thomas Watson, All
Things for Good,
Banner of Truth Trust
(127 pp.)
Case Study
"What will convince
you not to counsel?"
Problems in
counseling
Sudden disease
diagnosis
11/11/2015
Personal
7
16.3, 10-18 (9 pp.)
Process
Praxis
13
Case Study
15:22, Psalm
40:6-8
Problems in
counseling
"You don't listen!"
11/19/2015
Wells, David, Losing
Our Virtue;
introduction, chs. 2-4
(119 pp)
Personal
Process
Transitioning the
counseling
relationship
Counseling Dyad
Final
“Me: A
Counselor”
essays
Praxis
11/25/2015
Lexicon
translation paper:
student choice
No Class
8