Program overview
Caring for souls with wisdom and grace
People all around us are carrying burdens — grief, anxiety, broken relationships, hard questions. This program prepares you to come alongside them well: to listen deeply, care skillfully, and point gently toward the hope found in Christ. It draws on Scripture, the wisdom of the Christian tradition, and sound counseling principles, with a strong emphasis on your own character and self-awareness.
It’s a wonderful fit for lay counselors, pastors, small-group leaders, mentors, and anyone in a caring role — and it doesn’t require a lab or clinic, just a heart for people and a willingness to grow.
What you’ll explore
- The foundations of Christian care and soul-friendship
- Listening well, asking good questions, and building trust
- Walking with people through grief, anxiety, and conflict
- Ethics, boundaries, and knowing when to refer
- Your own inner life — because caregivers need care too
Sample courses & study modules
Your plan is assembled from modules like these — chosen and sequenced with your mentor:
- Introduction to Christian Counseling
- The Art of Listening
- Scripture & the Care of Souls
- Grief, Loss & Comfort
- Understanding Anxiety & Depression
- Marriage & Family Dynamics
- Crisis, Boundaries & Referral
- Ethics in Caregiving
- Spiritual Formation for Caregivers
- Hope & Healing
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2
Who it’s for
Lay counselors and care-ministry volunteers, pastors and chaplains, mentors and small-group leaders, and anyone who wants to care for hurting people with greater skill and compassion. (This program prepares you for caring, non-clinical roles; it is not a license to practice professional therapy.)
Degrees offered in this area
- Certificate in Biblical Counseling
- A.A. in Christian Counseling
- B.A. in Christian Counseling
A graduate M.A. in Christian Counseling is in development for future terms.
Where it can lead
Students grow into more confident, discerning caregivers — better equipped to serve in their churches, ministries, and communities.
Called to care for others?
Let’s build a plan that grows your compassion and your skill. Start with a free, no-pressure conversation.