PACO 501 Foundational Doctrines for Pastoral Counselors

Contemporary pastoral counselors must be equipped to provide biblical guidance and care for those confronted by the hard realities of faith and life. This course will help prepare students for counseling ministry by introducing them to key doctrines of the Christian faith, as well as the implications these doctrines have on pastoral care and counseling. 

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

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

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided topic for each discussion. Each thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge through at least one cited insight from each required source/reading to date. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be between 200–250 words and include at least one cited insight from each required source/reading to date. (CLO: A, B, C).

Podcast Design Assignment (3)

The Podcast Design Assignment will be completed in 3 steps.

Podcast Design: Research Topic Assignment

The majority of counseling situations in ministry will be theological/doctrinal in nature. Individuals will ask questions such as, “Why did God allow this to happen to me or to my family?” “How can I be sure of my salvation?” “Why is there suffering in the world?” “What is my purpose in life?” As an emerging leader in this field, the student will provide, in written format, the proposed content for a 10 to 20-minute informative podcast episode in a 100-word summary. Therefore, this assignment requires the student to select a doctrinal/biblical topic which would contribute to the field of pastoral counseling and develop appropriate research relative to the field and specific topic. Specific instructions are provided in the assignment instructions’ folder of the course (CLO: A, B).

Podcast Design: Research Proposal Assignment

After the student’s topic has been approved by the instructor, he/she must complete a research paper proposal that is 250-500 words. The proposal must contain the following components: a title page, a working thesis statement, need for study, biblical/exegetical studies supporting the selected topic, and a working reference list of at least 5 scholarly references. Specific instructions are provided in the assignment instructions’ folder of the course (CLO: A, B, C).

Podcase Design: Research Final Assignment

The student’s podcast proposal final submission will provide a working outline of their suggested series or single episode. The purpose of this assignment allows the student to create content that will not only enable other counselors to understand the value of theological application to current issues, but will also provide them a road map for this recommendation of a proposed podcast. The working outline should comprise a minimum of 1250 words and should not exceed 1,500 words. A cover page and final reference page should be included. Specific instructions are provided in the assignment instructions’ folder of the course (CLO: A, B, C)

The article, “The Holy Spirit, Common Grace, and Secular Psychotherapy,” written by Lydia Kim-van Daalen, challenges the pastoral counselor to consider the possibility that the Holy Spirit, through common grace, may use select principles of secular psychotherapy in Christian counseling. After reading this article, the student must select 5 – 7 resources, not referenced within the article, but are informed by the article, and could be recommended to a counselee. These resources must include digital content (website, podcast, audio book) as well as print content (article, book, paper). The student will submit that list of resources (2-3 pages in length) as a way of building a repository. Specific instructions are provided in the assignment instructions’ folder of the course (CLO: B).

What I Believe about Pastoral Counseling Power Point Assignment

Using the reading material, scriptures and discussion content, you will develop a PowerPoint response to “What I believe about pastoral counseling ministry.” The PowerPoint must demonstrate what you believe about pastoral counseling ministry formation by addressing the questions in the assignment instructions and be approximately 12 to 20 slides in length, including the title and reference slides (CLO: A, B, C).