Birmingham Theological Seminary
2200 Briarwood Way
Birmingham, Alabama 35243
205-776-5650
Summer 2012
Crisis Counseling BC7668
Professor: Luis Orteza, M. Div., M.S. D. Min.©
Cell Phone: 205-307-9542
E-mail address: uorteza@bellsouth.net
COURSE PURPOSE
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a biblical model of crises intervention
when calamities strike in life. Counselors, pastors, lay people and others who are involved in the
ministry profession will be offered a means to examine different methods of intervening during a
crisis with a view of understanding the church’s role in helping those who are hurting. The
course will provide students the opportunity to present “a crisis situation” using various models
in dealing with such crisis. By doing this, it is hoped that the student will be equipped to have the
skills to handle crisis situations in life based on the model or biblical paradigm relevant to crisis
intervention. The biblical paradigm then, will provide the framework in adjusting to one’s station
in life by having the necessary realistic management skills needed in dealing with crises.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will be able to have an understanding of models and methods that are wholistic,
spiritually focused and explicitly biblical in crisis intervention.
2. Students will be able to develop skills that biblical counselors can use to help others in times
of crisis.
3. Students will be able describe a framework of life stages consistent with the biblical view of
human development as it applies to dealing with crises situations.
4. Students will be able deal with the biblical framework in applying and dealing with life’s
exigencies.
5. Students will be able to define the attitudinal components and mental readiness consistent
with a biblical paradigm in handling crises situations.
COURSE TEXTS
Aguilera, Donna. Crisis Intervention: Theory and Methodology. St. Louis, MO.: The C.V.
Mosby Co., 1990.
Bayly, Joseph. The Last Thing We Talk About. Elgin, IL.: David C. Cook Publishing Co., 1992.
Floyd, Scott. Crisis Counseling: A Guide for Pastors and Professionals. Grand Rapids, MI.:
Kregel Publications, 2008.
White, Jerry and Mary. On the Job: Survival or Satisfaction. Colorado Springs, CO.:
NAVPRESS, 1988.
White, John. Parents in Pain: Overcoming the Hurt and Frustration of Problem Children.
Downers Grove, Il.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1979.
Wright, H. Norman. The New Guide to Crisis and Trauma Counseling. Ventura, CA.: Regal
Books Publishers, 2003.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Each student will write a crisis scenario (5 pages) and present it to the class and a group of 2 to
3 students will handle the crisis and present the solution to the class. The scenario could be actual
cases that have happened to the student or cases that have happened elsewhere. The scenario
should be something that actually happened. Participation in this assignment will comprise 20 %
of the grade: 5% for writing up the scenario and 15 % for involvement with a group to present a
solution. Date for presentation of the cases TBA.
2. Mid-exam and Final exams 30%
3. Term paper on a paradigm or model in handling a particular crisis. Length of paper about 12 to
15 pages 30%.
4. Assigned readings lasting throughout the summer worth 100 points and will account for 20 %
of the grade.
BTS FORMAT AND STYLE STANDARDS
NOTE: All papers must be formatted in accordance with Turabian Chicago standards including
the title page. Any paper not conforming to these standards will automatically be dropped one
letter grade. It goes without saying that no handwritten papers will be considered acceptable.
All course materials must be submitted by the last day of class. Thereafter, course materials may
be submitted for up to six (6) weeks after the end of the semester directly to the office of the
Registrar with the permission of the professor. If a student submits course materials after the
end of the semester but within the six (6) weeks grace period, the student’s grade will be lowered
by one letter grade. The course materials will not be accepted after the six (6) week grace period
and a failing grade will be posted to the student’s transcript.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR CRISIS IN COUNSELING
Aguilera, Donna C. Crisis Intervention: Theory and Methodology. St. Louis, MO.: The C.V.
Mosby Co., 1990.
Bayly, Joseph. The Last Thing We Talk About: Help and Hope For Those Who Grieve. Elgin,
IL.: David C. Cook Publishing Co., 1992.
Buchanan, Mark. The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God. Grand Rapids, MI.:
Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2003.
Floyd, Scott. Crisis Counseling: A Guide for Pastors and Professionals. Grand Rapids, MI.:
Kregel Publications, 2008.
Hinson, Ed. God is There in the Tough Times: Turning Your Disappointment into Hope. Eugene,
OR.: Harvest House Publishers, 1999.
Jones, Martin Lloyd. Spiritual Depression. Grand Rapids, MI.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1965.
Levinson, Daniel J. The Seasons of a Man’s Life. New York, NY.: Alfred A. Knopf Publishing
Co., 1978.
Lewis, C.S. A Grief Observed. San Francisco, CA.: Harper & Row Publishers, 1961.
Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain: How Human Suffering Raises Almost Intolerable Intellectual
Problems. New York, NY.: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1962.
Toffler, Alvin. Future Shock. New York, NY.: Random House, Inc., 1970.
Vanauken, Sheldon. A Severe Mercy. San Francisco, CA.: HarperCollins Publications, 1977.
White, Jerry & Mary. On the Job: Survival or Satisfaction. Colorado Springs, CO.: NAVPRESS,
1988.
Wright, H. Norman. Recovering From Losses in Life. Grand Rapids, MI.: Fleming H. Revell (a
division of Baker Publishing Group), 2006.
Wright, H. Norman. The New Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling. Ventura, CA.: Regal Books
Publishing, 2003.
Yancey, Philip. Where is God When it Hurts. Revised and Updated. Grand Rapids, MI.:
Zondervan Publications, 1977,1990.