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Providing Biblical Solutions for Personal Struggles

HEART Biblical Counselor Training Program

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About Course

The HEART (Heart, Evangelism, And Relationship Training) Biblical Counselor Training Program equips individuals with Christ-centered counseling skills. It blends theology with practical strategies to address struggles like depression, anxiety, and relationships through a biblical lens. Rooted in the belief that God’s Word provides answers, the program is ideal for church ministry, offering mentorship and guidance to help participants counsel effectively while staying true to their faith.

What Will You Learn?

  • 1. Biblical Foundations of Counseling: You'll explore how to interpret and apply the Bible's teachings in counseling settings, recognizing that Scripture provides the answers to human suffering, sin, and brokenness. Understanding theologically sound principles will guide you in offering both spiritual and practical support to those in need.
  • 2. Practical Counseling Skills: You’ll develop essential counseling techniques, learning how to listen effectively, ask probing questions, and offer guidance while maintaining a compassionate and understanding approach. These skills are tailored to support individuals dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, family conflicts, and spiritual struggles.
  • 3. Personal and Spiritual Development: Through the program, you will also focus on your own personal growth, as counseling others often requires self-awareness and spiritual maturity. The program encourages participants to reflect on their own relationship with God and deepen their understanding of His Word, which in turn strengthens their ability to help others.
  • 4. Application in Ministry and Community Settings: The course is designed with church leaders, ministry workers, and those involved in community outreach in mind. You will learn how to integrate counseling within your ministry, helping to create a culture of care in your church or organization. The program also explores how to counsel in both one-on-one and group settings, addressing specific needs like marriage, family, and parenting.
  • 5. Ethical and Legal Considerations: The HEART program ensures that you are well-versed in the ethical guidelines and legal aspects of counseling, ensuring that your practice respects both Christian values and the legal framework governing counseling in your jurisdiction.

Course Content

Counterfeit Counseling – Brad Bigney
Brad Bigney's concept of "counterfeit counseling" critiques approaches that subtly undermine biblical truth by blending secular psychology with Christian principles in ways that can dilute scriptural authority. Bigney argues that some counseling methods may promise help but, if not rooted in God’s Word, fail to address the true spiritual needs of individuals. He emphasizes the importance of fully relying on biblical guidance to bring about lasting transformation, highlighting that only Scripture-based counseling can genuinely address the heart's issues and align individuals with God's design.

  • Counterfeit Counseling Message
    01:00:00
  • Counterfeit Counseling Quiz

Heart Menders Handbook – Counseling Methods
The Heart Mender’s Handbook: Methods focuses on the practical techniques and strategies for applying biblical counseling principles. It lays out a structured framework for assessing counselees, identifying sin patterns, using Scripture effectively, and setting biblical goals for change. The book teaches counselors how to ask the right questions, provide firm but compassionate guidance, and ensure that the counselee is not merely seeking relief but pursuing genuine spiritual growth. Merging theology with counseling practice, this handbook offers step-by-step methods for addressing various counseling situations, from one-on-one sessions to long-term discipleship. It also highlights the counselor’s own spiritual preparation, urging them to rely on prayer, biblical wisdom, and dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than human techniques. Ultimately, Methods equips counselors with the tools necessary to mend hearts biblically, ensuring that every session is grounded in God’s truth and aimed at true transformation.

Heart Menders Handbook – Common Problems
The Heart Mender’s Handbook: Common Problems provides a biblical analysis of the most frequent struggles people face in counseling, such as anger, anxiety, depression, addiction, marital conflicts, and identity issues. The book emphasizes that these issues are not merely psychological but spiritual at their core, often stemming from sin, misplaced desires, or a lack of trust in God. The book helps counselors diagnose these problems biblically, pointing to Scripture as the primary tool for understanding and addressing them. It challenges secular psychological approaches and offers practical, Bible-based solutions for guiding people toward repentance, faith, and renewed obedience to God’s Word. Each chapter explores root causes, biblical case studies, and steps for lasting change, reinforcing that true healing comes through heart transformation rather than behavior modification.

Case Studies

Why Christians Can’t Trust Psychology – Book
*Why Christians Can’t Trust Psychology* by Ed Bulkley argues that psychology, with its secular foundations and human-centered perspectives, often contradicts biblical principles. Bulkley contends that many psychological theories lack a spiritual understanding of human nature and instead rely on frameworks that overlook the centrality of God and Scripture. He calls for Christians to be cautious in integrating secular psychology into their lives and counseling practices, encouraging a return to biblical methods for understanding and addressing emotional and spiritual challenges.

A Practical Guide for Effective Biblical Counseling – Book
In A Practical Guide for Effective Biblical Counseling, Wayne Mack provides a comprehensive, Scripture-centered approach to counseling that is grounded in the sufficiency of God’s Word. He argues that true and lasting change comes through the application of biblical principles rather than secular psychology. The book equips counselors with practical tools, including how to assess spiritual maturity, identify sin-related struggles, and guide counselees toward biblical repentance and transformation. Mack emphasizes that the heart, not just behavior, must change for true healing to occur. He outlines key counseling techniques, such as using Scripture for correction and encouragement, active listening, and setting biblical goals for growth. The book also highlights the role of the local church in supporting biblical counseling, reinforcing the idea that counseling should be discipleship-driven rather than therapy-based. Ultimately, A Practical Guide for Effective Biblical Counseling serves as a foundational resource for pastors, counselors, and believers seeking to provide Christ-centered counsel that leads to spiritual growth and restoration.

The Gospel For Disordered Lives – Book
*The Gospel for Disordered Lives: An Introduction to Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling* by Robert D. Jones, Kristin L. Kellen, and Rob Green offers a practical guide to counseling grounded in the gospel. The authors present a model of counseling that emphasizes the transformative power of Scripture and the gospel to address complex human issues, focusing on God’s redemptive work for holistic healing. It integrates theology with counseling techniques, providing readers with frameworks and strategies to help individuals grow spiritually while overcoming personal struggles.

Scripture In Counseling – Book
*Scripture and Counseling: God's Word for Life in a Broken World* emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture in addressing human struggles, providing a framework for Christian counseling rooted in biblical truth. The book explores how Scripture offers guidance, comfort, and transformation, arguing that God's Word is not only relevant but central to understanding and healing the human soul. Written by leading voices in biblical counseling, it includes practical case studies and theological insights, aiming to equip counselors to apply Scripture meaningfully in various counseling situations.

Self-Confrontation – Book
*Self-Confrontation: A Manual for In-Depth Biblical Discipleship* by John C. Broger is a comprehensive guide designed to help individuals apply Scripture to personal growth and change. This manual encourages believers to examine their lives in light of biblical truth, addressing issues of sin, relationships, and spiritual development. It includes step-by-step lessons, exercises, and Scripture-based principles, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of God's Word and encourage genuine transformation. The book is widely used in biblical counseling to support discipleship and spiritual self-assessment.

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