COUNSELING TRAINING
In addition to providing counseling to those who seek it, PureFocus offers biblical counseling training classes. These classes are intended to help equip Christians in two main ways: first, to apply Scripture to their own personal struggles in life, and second, to apply Scripture to the struggles of others, whether through formal counseling or informal conversations.
PureFocus is a certified training center of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and as such our training fulfills the requirements of ACBC Counselor Certification.
PureFocus is a certified training center of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and as such our training fulfills the requirements of ACBC Counselor Certification.
1. Complete a Fundamental Training Course
This 30 hours of training is comprised of the following topics:
I. Orientation to and Dynamics of Biblical Counseling
A. Basics of Biblical Counseling
1. The Need for Biblical Counseling
2. The Definition and Goal of Biblical Counseling
3. Progressive Sanctification
4. Process of Biblical Change
5. Qualifications of a Biblical Counselor
6. Getting to Heart Issues
B. Key Elements in Biblical Counseling
1. Gathering Data
2. Discerning Problems Biblically
3. Establishing Involvement with Counselees
4. Giving Hope
5. Providing Instruction
6. Giving Homework
II. Critical Reflection on Various Theories in Counseling
A. Secular and Integration Theories
B. What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?
III. Husband and Wife Relationships
A. God’s Purpose for Marriage
B. Roles of the Husband and Wife
C. Communication
D. Biblical Sexuality
IV. Parent and Child Relationships
A. Goal of Parenting
B. Parental Instruction
C. Parental Discipline
V. Frequent Issues in Counseling
A. Guilt and Repentance
B. Forgiveness
C. Trials and Suffering
D. Fear and Worry
E. Anger
F. Depression
G. Sexual Sin
VI. Medical Issues in Counseling
A. Physical Illness and Biblical Counseling
B. Psychotropic Drugs and Biblical Counseling
VII. Case Studies
A. Total Casebook, Role Plays, and other Practice Case Discussions
2. Observe an ACBC Certified Counselor
I. Complete 10 hours of observation.
3. Grow Through Reading
I. Increase your understanding of biblical counseling and theology by reading 1,000 pages from our Approved Reading List. At least 300 of the 1,000 pages will need to be from the “Biblical Counseling and Theology” category on the Approved Reading List.
4. Exam
I. Complete Theological and Counselor Exams
5. Application
I. Complete the online application which includes the following elements:
A. Introduction to ACBC Application
B. Review and Affirmation of ACBC Guiding Documents and Statements from the Board of Directors
C. Application
D. Submission of Observation and Reading Logs
E. Pastor/Elder Evaluation
F. Colleague Evaluation
G. Church Member and Authority Letter
H. Submission of Ordination Certificate (optional - men only)
I. Submission of Theological and Counselor Exams
J. Create an ACBC Candidate Account and Pay Fees.
6. Supervision
I. Fellow Selection
A. Choose a fellow from a list of fellows sent to you after you pass your exams.
II. Notify ACBC
A. Notify the ACBC when a fellow has agreed to be your supervisor (No counseling hours may be counted before you have received approval to begin Phase III from the ACBC office).
III. 50 Sessions
A. Complete 50 session (of at least one hour in length) of supervised counseling.
IV. Case Report Review
A. Meet with and review each case report with your supervisor
V. Recommendation for Membership
A. After you have completed 50 session of counseling that your supervisor is satisfied with, he will submit a recommendation for membership.
This 30 hours of training is comprised of the following topics:
I. Orientation to and Dynamics of Biblical Counseling
A. Basics of Biblical Counseling
1. The Need for Biblical Counseling
2. The Definition and Goal of Biblical Counseling
3. Progressive Sanctification
4. Process of Biblical Change
5. Qualifications of a Biblical Counselor
6. Getting to Heart Issues
B. Key Elements in Biblical Counseling
1. Gathering Data
2. Discerning Problems Biblically
3. Establishing Involvement with Counselees
4. Giving Hope
5. Providing Instruction
6. Giving Homework
II. Critical Reflection on Various Theories in Counseling
A. Secular and Integration Theories
B. What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?
III. Husband and Wife Relationships
A. God’s Purpose for Marriage
B. Roles of the Husband and Wife
C. Communication
D. Biblical Sexuality
IV. Parent and Child Relationships
A. Goal of Parenting
B. Parental Instruction
C. Parental Discipline
V. Frequent Issues in Counseling
A. Guilt and Repentance
B. Forgiveness
C. Trials and Suffering
D. Fear and Worry
E. Anger
F. Depression
G. Sexual Sin
VI. Medical Issues in Counseling
A. Physical Illness and Biblical Counseling
B. Psychotropic Drugs and Biblical Counseling
VII. Case Studies
A. Total Casebook, Role Plays, and other Practice Case Discussions
2. Observe an ACBC Certified Counselor
I. Complete 10 hours of observation.
3. Grow Through Reading
I. Increase your understanding of biblical counseling and theology by reading 1,000 pages from our Approved Reading List. At least 300 of the 1,000 pages will need to be from the “Biblical Counseling and Theology” category on the Approved Reading List.
4. Exam
I. Complete Theological and Counselor Exams
5. Application
I. Complete the online application which includes the following elements:
A. Introduction to ACBC Application
B. Review and Affirmation of ACBC Guiding Documents and Statements from the Board of Directors
C. Application
D. Submission of Observation and Reading Logs
E. Pastor/Elder Evaluation
F. Colleague Evaluation
G. Church Member and Authority Letter
H. Submission of Ordination Certificate (optional - men only)
I. Submission of Theological and Counselor Exams
J. Create an ACBC Candidate Account and Pay Fees.
6. Supervision
I. Fellow Selection
A. Choose a fellow from a list of fellows sent to you after you pass your exams.
II. Notify ACBC
A. Notify the ACBC when a fellow has agreed to be your supervisor (No counseling hours may be counted before you have received approval to begin Phase III from the ACBC office).
III. 50 Sessions
A. Complete 50 session (of at least one hour in length) of supervised counseling.
IV. Case Report Review
A. Meet with and review each case report with your supervisor
V. Recommendation for Membership
A. After you have completed 50 session of counseling that your supervisor is satisfied with, he will submit a recommendation for membership.