Premarital & Marital Issues in Pastoral Counseling – EDCO 836

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course studies issues that affect the relationship and decision to marry in premarital counseling, as well as problematic factors in marriage such as marital distress and dissolution. Factors central to marital enrichment, renewal, stability, growth, and health are addressed by marriage theories and intervention strategies.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Counselors must understand the impact of a complex and sin-oriented society on marriage. Special knowledge and skills are necessary to understand the wide-range issues and roots of marital issues and how to meet the challenges facing couples in dating, engagement, and marital seasons of life. This course is designed to equip counselors in the clinical literature with application to couples using a lens of a biblical worldview.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a discussion thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion and continue the discussion with peers in the form of replies.

Premarital Case Study

Each student will review a given case study with a premarital couple. An assessment of the couple's relationship and a bullet point treatment plan will be offered in the initial thread. Each thread must include information from 2 relevant articles written within the last 5 years and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the discussion thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ discussion threads. Each discussion reply must include at least one source.

Counseling Stepfamily Marriages Case Study 

Each student will review a given case study with a remarried couple within a stepfamily context. The focus for the initial thread is to help the couple create a biblical vision for the marriage and family. Each thread must include information from 2 relevant articles written within the last 5 years and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the discussion thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ discussion threads. Each discussion reply must include at least one source.

Married Couple Case Study - Infidelity

Each student will review a given case study with a married couple facing the issue of infidelity. Students will offer 3 goals that would be helpful to the couple and provide information on how to accomplish those goals.  Each thread must include information from 2 relevant articles written within the last 5 years and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the discussion thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ discussion threads regarding their chosen goals for the couple. Each discussion reply must include at least one source.

Each student will select one premarital assessment (e.g. PREPARE, Before I Say I Do, SYMBIS) and evaluate the instrument based on given criteria. A total of 3 sources are expected.

Each student will review a provided case study and form an assessment and treatment plan for the couple's marriage and family. At least 5 references are required with 2 of those being outside of course materials. The focus will be on the couple's marriage but attention should also be provided to the family. The treatment plan will include at least 3 goals and should be supported by literature review. 

Each student will conduct approximately 2 sessions with the same pre-engaged, engaged, or married couple over the course duration. These sessions are not to be considered counseling sessions but are interviews that will serve to understand couple dynamics. An assessment will be offered using given criteria and a biblical worldview should be utilized. At least 4 sources are required.

Each student will review a total of 8 articles written within the last 10 years concerning issues that impact marital functioning. The student will select 2 articles each for the following topics: divorce, substance abuse, sexual issues, and marital aggression. Students will offer information on given criteria.

Each student will review the provided case studies and select one of three and provide an assessment and treatment plan for the couple's marital conflict. A total of 12-15 sources are expected with at least half of those being from peer-reviewed journals. The assignment will be between 12-15 pages.