Advanced Issues in Biblical Counseling

Roger G. DePriest

SPRING 2024 | 3 CREDIT HOURS | RESIDENT & ONLINE

This course will build upon the prerequisite introductory course, Introduction to Biblical Counseling. The focus is on current/pertinent issues in biblical counseling. Specifically, it seeks to develop in much greater detail—through a commitment to the sufficiency of Christ and Scripture—some of the common counseling issues that biblical counselors face. The subjects addressed in this course include, inter alia, a close look at the dynamic operations of the heart, issues of sexuality, domestic abuse, anger, the nature of temptation, various counseling issues, case studies, critical interaction with certain entries in the DSM-V, and psychological terms as well as such sins and predispositions presented under a variety of secular labels. There will be a variety of in class discussions of counseling case scenarios aimed to develop the student’s critical discernment with respect to counseling issues.

As a result of taking this course, the student will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the dynamics of the human heart with regard to select counseling issues as well as a basic level of competency in strategizing and approaching these in a way that will be helpful for counselees struggling and suffering with these same issues. The student will become conversant with key works that currently come to bear on key biblical counseling issues. In addition, the student will be able to knowledgeably discuss the secular notion of “disorders” in contrast and in comparison to the doctrine of sanctification. In addition, the student will gain experience and critical discernment in analyzing and approaching a variety of counseling case scenarios. 3 credit hours.