PC 631 Marriage and Family Counselling Winter Semester 2013 To develop Christ-minded leaders who make a difference in the world. INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Thambiraj, M.Div Biblical Counselling; NANC Certified Office Phone: (780) 431-5200 Email: elizabeth.thambiraj@taylor-edu.ca SCHEDULE: Thursdays, 8.30 am -12.15 p.m; January 24 th April 18 th 2013 CREDITS: 3 [30 hours of work per credit outside of class time] DESCRIPTION: A course designed to consider the various counselling approaches within the context of the marital and family relationships. Emphasis will be placed upon an understanding of the structure and function of marriage and the family, and the way in which the counselling pastor may intervene in a therapeutic ministry. OBJECTIVES: 1. To prepare the student to be more effective in his/her pastoral ministry by introducing him/her to the various dynamics operating within a marital and family system. 2. To expose the student to, and to enhance the student s knowledge of, several key theoretical frameworks, including: the experiential, behavioural, narrative, and structural models of family therapy. 3. To familiarize the student with some of the techniques available in intervening in a dysfunctional marital and/or family system. Few case studies will be done in the classroom to get deeper understanding of issues. 4. To enable the student to articulate a Biblical world view of marriage and family systems. 5. To enable the student to begin to develop an understanding of their own family system through a personal family of origin study. 6. To analyse Biblically and distinguishing chemical imbalances, brain disorders and disobedience and viewing brain problems through the lens of Scripture. TEXTBOOK(S): Required text books: 1. Allender, Dan and Tremper Longman III. Intimate Allies. Carol Stream, Illinois; Tyndale House publishers, 1995. 2. Goldenberg, I and H. Goldenberg. Family Therapy: An overview, 8 th Edition. Pacific Grove, CA; Brookes/Cole Publishing, 2007. 3. Richardson, R.W. Family Ties that Bind. Vancouver B.C; International Self - Counsel Press Ltd, 1995. 4. Thomas, Garry. Sacred Marriage, What if God designed marriage more to make us holy than to make us happy. Toronto: Harper Collins Canada, 2002. 5. DeMuth, Mary E. Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, Authentic parenting in a postmodern culture, practical help for shaping your children s hearts, minds, and souls. Eugene, Oregon; Harvest House Publishers, 2007. 6. Kirwan, William T. Biblical Concepts for Christian Counseling, A case for integrating Psychology and Theology. Grand Rapids: Michigan; Baker Book House, 1984. Students are recommended to buy the above 6 text books. They are available at neos library and at amazon.com. PC 631, Winter 2013 Page 1 of 6 Updated: 9/20/2012
Recommended reading & resources: 7. Crabb, Larry. Effective Biblical Counseling, How caring Christians can become capable counselors. Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 1977. 8. Worthington JR, Everett L. Hope-focused marriage counseling, Author of forgiving and reconciling, A Guide to brief therapy. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, Intervarsity Press, 2005. 9. Barkley, Russell & Robin, Arthur. Your Defiant Teen, 10 Steps to resolve conflict and rebuild your relationship. New York; A division of Guilford Publications, 2008. 10. Furlong, David. Healing your family patterns, how to access the past to heal the present. London; Judy Piatkus (Publishers) Ltd, 1997. The above recommended reading and resources are available at neos library and at amazon.com. It is not necessary to own the above books since sufficient notes will be provided. REQUIREMENTS: 1. Regular classroom attendance and participation in all classroom activities. 2. Reading of all text books assigned and the materials supplied. Read text books: 1, 3, 4 & 5. Read text books: 2 and 6 assigned sections only. All other photocopies of material supplied. 3. Written Assignments Family Journal: students will write 1-2 pages per week (handwritten or typed) in some type of bound journal. The weekly entries should reflect their understanding of theoretical perspectives as well as class discussions and experiences as they bear on their own family of origin or a family they are familiar with. Journals will be collected on the next to the last class period. If they desire that the instructor not read a certain journal entry, they are advised to staple those pages together. Your privacy will be respected. This will help in writing the other assignments and the major paper. 4. Write a major paper. Write a paper on heart and mind connection with diagrams and explanations. Analyse Biblically and distinguishing chemical imbalances, brain disorders and disobedience and viewing brain problems through the lens of Scripture. Site your references. The book used for research: Edward, T. Welch. Blame it on the brain? Distinguishing chemical Imbalances, brain disorders, and disobedience. New Jersey: Resources for Changing Lives, P& R Publishing, 1998. The book is available at the library, and it is not necessary to own this book since sufficient notes with research will be supplied during the classes. 5. Mid-term examination: March 7 th 2013 6. Final examination: April 25 th 2013 7. PENALTIES: Types of Academic Misconduct (as in the Seminary Catalogue) 1. Plagiarism 2. Collusion 3. Cheating 4. Other Forms of Academic Misconduct Further details will be explained in the first session of the course. Honesty and Integrity in research and submitting assignments and commitment to class attendance are required. Read: 2 Timothy: 2:14-26 (approved and disapproved workers) Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the later, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy: 2:21. PC 631, Winter 2013 Page 2 of 6 Updated: 9/20/2012
EVALUATION: [giving percentage allotted to each item that will be graded] 1. Attendance and participation 10% 2. Mid-term examination 30% 3. Paper 30% 4. Final examination 30% COURSE OUTLINE: January 24 th 2013 - Introduction to course and to each other. Course objectives and requirements. - Minister and marital and family therapy and the problem of eclecticism in counselling. - Your brain and what it does? Diagram of the brain and its general function. - The loss of personal identity. - Read: Kirwan, William T. Biblical Concepts for Christian Counseling, A case for integrating Psychology and Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1984. (Chapter 4) - Read: G & G chapters 1-4 (photocopies of case studies and notes will be given) January 31 st 2013 - Family Coalition types; family mapping; focussing on boundaries; becoming a marital and family counsellor; Ethical consideration. (Appendix A: AAMFT Code of Ethics) - Understanding of genograms and setting up a family tree. - Read: G & G chapters 6 & 8 - Read: Furlong, David. Healing your Family Patterns, How to access the past to heal the present. London: Judy Piatkus (Publishers) Ltd; 1997. (Chapter 5: photocopy will be given) - Read: Richardson, R.W. Family Ties that Bind. Vancouver B.C: Self Counsel Press, 1995. (Chapters 1-5) - Do (Assignment 1): 3 Generation family genogram: Time expectation 2 hours. February 7 th 2013 - Models of Family Therapy: The Experiential Model; The Narrative Model. - Read: G & G chapters 9 & 14 - Read: Richardson, R.W. Family Ties that Bind. Vancouver B.C: Self Counsel Press, 1995. (Chapter 9; & Appendix 1) : Interventions for strengthening communication. - Read: Worthington JR, Everett L. Hope-focused Marriage Counseling, A Guide to brief therapy. Illinois: IVP Academic, Intervarsity Press, 2005. (chapter 10: photocopy will be given) - Do (Assignment 2): Listening interview (5 minutes) February 14 th 2013 - Models of Family therapy: Behavioural Family Therapy. (behavioural cognitive model) - Behavioural Couples Therapy - Behavioural Parent Training - Read: G & G chapter 12 - Read: DeMuth, Mary E. Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, practical help for shaping your children s hearts, minds, and souls. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2007. (part 1 & part 2) February 21 st 2013 - Models of Family Therapy: Transgenerational therapy; Structural family therapy. - Family systems, boundaries, alignments and coalitions - The Three A s of generational dysfunction - Read: (photocopy will be given) Guernsey, Dr. Dennis & Lucy. Birth Marks, your family tree contains the key to understanding your spiritual and emotional. Breaking free from the destructive imprints of your family History. Dallas: Word Publishing, U.SA, 1991. (chapter 7) - Read: G & G chapters 8 & 10. - Do: (Assignment 3): Genogram interpretation and self- assessment: Time expectation 2 hours. - Do: (Assignment) : Helping interview (10 minutes) PC 631, Winter 2013 Page 3 of 6 Updated: 9/20/2012
February 28 th 2013 - Models of Family Therapy: Strategic Models; Milan Systemic Model Family Therapy. - Construct a Biblical world view of marriage and family. - Read: G & G chapter 11 - Read: Thomas, Garry. Sacred Marriage, What if God designed marriage more to make us holy than to make us happy. Toronto: Harper Collins Canada, 2002 (chapters 1-4) - Quiz: - Do: (Assignment 4) : Self-reflection journal: Write a Narrative of your family story (Time 2 hours)- 1 st time - Do: Prepare for Examination. Time requirements 10 hours. March 7 th 2013 - Mid- Term Examination (1 hour) - Genesis 1-3. The pre-fall marriage as a model of relationship. Male and female: Divine comedy or brilliance? God created man in His image. - Read: Allender, Dan and Tremper Longman III. Intimate Allies. Carol Stream: Tyndale House publishers, 1995. (part 1 & part 2) - The sequence of Adam s relationships (before the Creation of Eve and after the Creation of Eve and after the Fall) - Read: Kirwan, William T. Biblical concepts for Christian counseling, A case for integrating Psychology and Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1984. (Chapter 2) - Love in all the wrong places? March 14 th 2013 - New Testament instruction for marriages; the role of the community in helping couples. - The Bible uses marriage to remind you that your first allegiance is to Christ. - Triggers to conflict in marriages. - Living beyond the Fall. - Read: Allender, Dan and Tremper Longman III. Intimate Allies. Carol Stream: Tyndale House publishers, 1995. (part 3 & part 4) - Case studies. - Do: Assignment: Submit a research paper: Compare and contrast the view of marriages in the Old Testament vs. New Testament. (3 hours) March 21 st 2013 - Narratives in teaching our children; what should they know about themselves. - Authentic parenting in a post-modern culture, practical help for shaping your children s hearts, minds, and souls. Releasing children, embracing culture, how do we prepare them? - Read: DeMuth, Mary E. Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, practical help for shaping your children s hearts, minds, and souls. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2007. (part 3) - Discussion of Bowen s family therapy: dealing with triangles. - Read: Richardson, R.W. Family Ties that Bind. Vancouver B.C: Self Counsel Press, 1995. (chapters 6 & 8) - Your Defiant Teen - Read: (photocopy will be given) Barkley, Russell & Robin, Arthur. Your Defiant Teen, 10 Steps to resolve conflict and rebuild your relationship. New York: The Guilford Press, 2008. (chapters 3-5) - Do: (Assignment 4) : Self-reflection journal: Write a Narrative of your family story (Time 2 hours)- 2 nd time March 28 th 2013 - Mind and heart Connection; diagrams: psycho-anatomy of a believer vs. non-believer to understand. - Spiral diagram to understand non-organic issues. - Developing a counselling programme in a local Church. - Read :( photocopy will be given) Crabb, Larry. Effective Biblical counseling, how caring Christians can become capable counselors. Marshall Pickering, London: An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, Zondervan Corporation; 1977. (chapter 5, 10) - Case studies - Valley experiences. PC 631, Winter 2013 Page 4 of 6 Updated: 9/20/2012
April 4 th 2013 - Mind and body; blame it on the brain? - (Photocopies will be given): Welch, Edward, T. Blame it on the brain, distinguishing chemical Imbalances, New Jersey: Resources for Changing Lives, P& R Publishing, 1998. - The restoration of personal identity - Read: Kirwan, William T. Biblical concepts for Christian counseling, A case for integrating Psychology and Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1984. (Chapter 5) - Read: Thomas, Garry. Sacred Marriage, What if God designed marriage more to make us holy than to make us happy. Toronto: Harper Collins Canada, 2002. (chapters 5-9) - Do: Write a paper on heart and mind connection with diagrams and explain. Analyse Biblically and distinguishing chemical imbalances, brain disorders and disobedience and viewing brain problems through the lens of Scripture. Site your references. (3 hours) April 11 th 2013 - Understanding spiritual warfare with diagram - Read :( photocopy will be given) Furlong, David. Healing your family patterns, How to access the past to heal the present. London: Judy Piatkus (Publishers) Ltd; 1997. (part 2: chapters 6-8) - Total structuring - Goals in Life April 18 th 2013 - Understanding God s Plan for families: Sacred Mission - Read: Thomas, Garry. Sacred Marriage, What if God designed marriage more to make us holy than to make us happy. Toronto: Harper Collins Canada, 2002. (chapters 10-13) - Read: Allender, Dan and Tremper Longman III. Intimate Allies. Carol Stream: Tyndale House publishers, 1995. (part 5) - Prepare for final Examination 20 hours April 25 th 2013 - Final Examination PC 631, Winter 2013 Page 5 of 6 Updated: 9/20/2012
BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. Jay E.Adams. The Christian Counselor s Manual, The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973. 2. Jay E. Adams. Critical stages of Biblical counseling, finishing well, breaking through, getting started. New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002. 3. John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack. Introduction to Biblical counseling, A Basic guide to the principles and practice of counseling. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994. 4. Claire Smith. God s Good Design, What the Bible really says about Men and Women. Kingsford, NSW, Australia: Matthias Media, 2012. 5. Everett L. Worthington JR. Hope-focused Marriage Counseling, A Guide to Brief Therapy. Illinois: IVP Academic, Intervarsity Press, 2005. 6. Edward T. Welch. Blame it on the brain? Distinguishing chemical Imbalances, brain disorders, and disobedience. New Jersey: Resources for Changing Lives, P& R Publishing, 1998. 7. Peter Scazzero. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, It s impossible to be spiritually mature, while remaining emotionally immature. Nashville: Integrity Publishers, 2006. 8. Willard F. Harley, Jr. His Needs, Her Needs, Building an affair-proof marriage. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell. A Division of Baker Book House, 1986, 1994. 9. Dr. Dennis & Lucy Guernsey. Birth Marks, your family tree contains the key to understanding your spiritual and emotional. Breaking free from the destructive imprints of your family History. Dallas: Word Publishing, U.SA, 1991. PC 631, Winter 2013 Page 6 of 6 Updated: 9/20/2012