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Essentials for Lay Counseling Ministry

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the foundational principles of lay counseling with a Christ-centered focus. Students will learn practical strategies for building a successful church-based lay counseling ministry. 
  • Level: Beginner
  • Duration:  32 hours 
  • Video Duration: 10 hours 
  • Instructor:  Timothy Lloyd, Ph.D., D. Min.LMFT, BCBA, MCAP
  • Certification: Certified Lay Counselor Certification awarded upon completion of Courses 1-3.

Welcome!

We’re so excited to have you join us in this journey to becoming an effective lay counselor. Whether you're starting fresh or enhancing your existing skills, this course is designed to provide you with the foundational tools and insights needed to succeed in the world of lay counseling. Watch as Dr. Tim Lloyd gives a warm welcome and brief introduction into this course. 
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“Healing is God’s work, a spiritual process that you cannot perform. In contrast, restoration is where you can become a co-laborer with God, guiding and supporting individuals on their journey toward wholeness.”

-Dr. Tim Lloyd

Course Description

Welcome to our transformative online course, inspired by the timeless wisdom of Siang-Yang Tan’s seminal book on lay counseling. Throughout this journey, we will look into the profound necessity of lay counseling and explore the foundational theories and the actionable steps that local churches can adopt to establish a thriving lay counseling program. This course is about knowledge and practical tools that can make a real difference in your community. 

In this course, we will explore a variety of essential topics designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to build and lead an effective counseling ministry. We'll start by covering the fundamentals of a counseling ministry, where you'll gain an understanding of the core principles and practices needed to establish a strong foundation. We'll then dive into ethical standards and legal considerations, focusing on the important guidelines and responsibilities that ensure integrity and trust in your counseling work. 



You'll also learn about the critical role of training and supervision, emphasizing the value of ongoing education and mentorship to enhance your skills as a lay counselor.

Additionally, we'll explore community resources and support networks, helping you identify local resources to enrich your ministry. We'll also review faith-based support research, examining how faith can be effectively integrated into mental health and discuss strategies for addressing mental health stigmas. Finally, we'll emphasize wholistic wellness approaches, focusing on how to support the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of those you counsel.

Join us as we embark on this enlightening and impactful exploration. Get ready to be deeply enriched and inspired by the knowledge you gain and the empowerment it brings to make a positive change in your community. 

  • Self-Paced

    Discover your role as a lay counselor at your own pace and develop foundational counseling skills and integrate a faith-based perspective into your practices through a blend of theoretical learning and practical application.

  • Interactive

    Engage in interactive modules, videos, activities, and reflections throughout the course to enhance their understanding of faith-based counseling practices.

  • Faith-Based

    Integrate biblical principles and deepen your understanding of faith-centered counseling to provide compassionate, ethical services within a Christian context.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, the learner will be able to: 
Apply biblical principles to address mental health stigmas and provide wholistic support that meets both the spiritual and emotional needs of individuals within faith communities.
Describe the essential components for creating and sustaining an effective biblical counseling ministry, including structure, leadership, and resources.
Develop a strong foundational knowledge to seamlessly integrate psychological insights and theological principles into your role as a lay counselor.
Explore how faith can be integrated into counseling to deepen therapeutic practices.
Apply ethical standards and spiritual principles to foster a safe, welcoming environment while engaging with your community in a Christ-centered manner.
Understand the dynamics of burnout and stress, and apply prevention strategies that promote personal well-being and resilience in your counseling ministry.

Course Information 

Prerequisites

This is the final course in the Introductory Level 1 Lay Counseling Certification.

  Course Instructor

Dr. Tim Lloyd, Ph.D., LMFT

Required Textbooks

  • Tan, Siang-Yang, and Eric T. Scalise. Lay Counseling, Revised and Updated: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry, Zondervan, 2016. ProQuest eBook Central
  • Bible (Standard translation preferred: NIV, ESV, NKJV)

Additional Textbooks

Christian Counseling 3rd Edition: Revised and Updated Paperback – Illustrated, January 14, 2007 by Gary R Collins Ph.D. 

Get the Lay Counseling book here. 

This book will be a valuable resource as you navigate through the online modules. 
  • Provides in-depth explanations and examples to enhance your understanding of the course material.
  • Serves as a quick reference guide to support your progress through each module.
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To access this course, scroll to the top of the page and click "Enroll" or "Continue".

Course Content Disclaimer

The course content for this online program has been curated with utmost diligence and respect for intellectual property rights. The developers of this course have obtained all necessary permissions and rights for the use of video, audio, and written content incorporated into the coursework. The course content is intended solely for educational purposes. No content is being misused or disseminated without proper authorization. It is not for unauthorized distribution or copyright infringement.
Please note that any unauthorized use or distribution of the course content is strictly prohibited.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in respecting the intellectual property rights associated with this course.