ADC506: Christian Approaches to Counseling and Life Transformation

Undergraduate Syllabus

Instructor & Contact Information

The People tab in Canvas provides information on the course instructor and you can send a message to your instructor following these instructions. Faculty are expected to: 1) grade and return assignments, with feedback, within 7 days from the date of submission; 2) reply to your Canvas messages within 72 hours; 3) reply several times each week in total in the discussion forums (not to each individual student); and 4) demonstrate the core values of City Vision University.

Course Description

The focus of this course is to help students identify the Christian foundations to bringing life transformation through counseling and ministry programs. The focus of this course is to develop a comprehensive theological and philosophical basis for all of a ministry's programs  (see Christian Approaches to Counseling and Life Transformation Final Project). This course will integrate the following four perspectives on bringing life transformation as shown in the slide below: psychological, theological, spiritual formation and ministry program perspectives.

You can see how this course relates to other courses in the slide below.

Organizational Requirements

The final project of this course is focused on developing a program staff training manual explaining the unique approach that a ministry takes to counseling and life transformation. Because of this, students enrolling in this course will need to be able to identify a ministry to work with for your assignments. Students have two options in selecting a Christian Organization for the Final Project:

1. Option 1. If you work for a Christian organization that provides counseling and life transformation programs, you can use your current organization.
2. Option 2. Imagine that you work for a Christian counseling organization or ministry. If at all possible, you should select an organization or ministry where you could interview them.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Evaluate a ministry's core theology and worldview distinctives.
2. Write how a ministry's theological anthropology influences its understanding of causes  of and potential solutions to client problems.
3. Develop an approach to determining truth and evidence-based practice uniquely aligned with a ministry's values.
4. Develop detailed plans to integrate Christian concepts and practices into counseling and programs including: sin, confession, forgiveness, spiritual formation, spiritual disciplines and other spiritual interventions.
5. Articulate a ministry's unique approach to life transformation and translate that into specific programmatic and community elements. 
6. Develop a comprehensive program staff training manual explaining the unique approach that a ministry takes to counseling and life transformation.

Degree Program Outcomes

Degree outcomes are the overall skills and knowledge we expect you will have after successfully completing a degree program at City Vision University. After completing the degree, you will be able to do the following in each of the listed domains:

1. Addiction Counseling. Develop plans and function in the eight practice domains of addiction counseling including: 1) Clinical Evaluation, 2) Treatment Planning, 3) Referral, 4) Case Management, 5) Counseling, 6) Client Education, 7) Documentation and 8) Ethics including transdisciplinary foundations.
2. Christian Counseling. Integrate the theory and practice of addiction counseling into a Christian worldview to effectively serve and apply professional ethics in secular counseling and Christian counseling environments. *
3. Co-occurring Disorders. Provide counseling, treatment plans and referrals to those with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.
4. Addiction Psychopharmacology. Develop effective addiction treatment based on knowedge of a range of psychoactive drugs and be able to educate clients and provide referrals needed to provide comprehensive treatment.
5. Family Counseling. Provide counseling to families affected by addiction and assist them in moving toward healthy family dynamics.
6. Trauma & Crisis Counseling. Provide effective counseling to those experiencing crisis or having a history of trauma.
7. Multicultural Counseling. Utilize effective methods to counsel diverse clients in both Christian and secular counseling environments

   Concentration Outcomes

8. Group Counseling. Facilitate group counseling sessions based on an understanding of group dynamics in addiction treatment.
9. Counseling Theory. Synthesize counseling theories to develop treatment plans for those with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.
10. Counseling Skills & Techniques. Apply counseling theories and techniques in addiction counseling including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and 12-step group facilitation.
11. Clinical Evaluation. Conduct thorough assessments and diagnoses of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
12. Professional Ethics. Apply the ethical and professional principles, standards, and expectations that are integral to a professional counselor’s role and identity.
13. Behavioral Addiction. Provide counseling to those dealing with behavioral addictions as well as conducting self-assessment to maintain balance avoiding and personally avoiding behavioral addictions.
14. Culminating Experience. Demonstrate mastery either of the practice of addiction counseling through a practicum or comprehensive knowledge through preparation for an addiction counseling certification exam.

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

• Entwistle, D. N. (2015). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration (3rd ed.). Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN: 9781498223485.
• Johnson, E. L., & Myers, D. G. (2009). Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling. Tyndale House Publishers.
• Hedlund, C. W. (2017). More than a Homeless Shelter: A Perspective on Residential Rescue Ministry Programming. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

• Grading Scale 

• Deadlines to Drop Courses

• Attendance, Late Policy and Extensions

• Technology Requirements for Courses

• Standards of Academic Integrity & Plagiarism Policy

• What plagiarism is and how to avoid it 

• Credit Hour Policy, Grading Policy and Other Academic Policies

• ADA Policy, Learning Accommodations & Disabilities Services
• Student Code of Conduct 

• Library Services

Additional Policies:

• Privacy Policy

• Consumer Disclosures
• Additional policies are listed in our catalog

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester. Last updated: December 30, 2024