Counseling Ministries

At BBC we see the field of counseling as a critical ministry need in our society. As you consider your future education in counseling, we want you to see our heart for the ministry of counseling. While our graduates are equipped to pursue a variety of counseling positions, our passion is for them to use counseling to support the ministries of the local church.   Our counseling program is a biblical counseling program; this means every aspect of the program is taught and evaluated through the grid of God's Word. We believe that God's Word is sufficient to meet the needs and solve the problems that people face. While the study of psychology can provide useful information, all that we teach and learn must be filtered through the Word of God.   It is our goal to prepare you to be the most effective biblical counselor you can be. Our desire is to see you enter into the field of counseling equipped with the skills and knowledge you need to keep you current with the needs of society. We want to see you meet those needs by pointing people to the answers provided by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Core Courses in the Counseling Ministries Program

BBC gives you a strong foundation to understand and apply biblical truth through 42 hours of Bible and theology courses. A required set of General Studies courses supplement that foundation by enabling you to consider the world in which you will minister. You will then build upon this foundation as you complete over 40 credit hours studying the specific disciplines of your field, and determining how you can best apply your unique strengths, gifts, and abilities. The core courses of this program include the following:

•  Introduction to Counseling

•  Human Growth and Development

•  Abnormal Psychology

•  Women Counseling Women or Pastoral Counseling

•  Personality Theory

•  History and Contemporary Theories in Counseling

•  Marriage and Family Dynamics

•  Issues in Professionalism

•  Psychology of Learning

•  Test and Measurements

•  Social Psychology

Graduates of this program earn the equivalent of a double major in both Bible and Counseling Ministries.

What Happens After Graduation?

Upon completion of the program, graduates will have completed coursework equivalent to a double major in Bible and Counseling Ministries and will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Bible.
 
Studying in the Counseling Ministries program will provide you with the skills necessary for effective counseling in a variety of settings. These opportunities include working in church counseling ministries and parachurch ministries such as mission agencies, Christian camps and schools, and social agencies. The Counseling Ministries program will not only equip you for these positions; it will also enhance your abilities in any other ministry setting such as youth, pastoral, or women's ministries
 
As a graduate of this program, you may counsel in a church ministry setting or in the secular workplace. The program prepares you to pursue your Master's degree if you desire to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Nationally Certified Counselor after graduate school.
 
Some of our graduates have chosen to pursue their Master's degree at places such as Baptist Bible Graduate School, Philadelphia Biblical University, Marywood University, and The Master's College. Our graduates have also obtained positions as marriage counselors, counseling directors, and professors of psychology and counseling at organizations such as Bryan College (Dayton, TN), Bethanna, a Christian service agency for children and families (Philadelphia, PA), and Exchanged Life Ministries (Dallas, TX).

Real People   "The biblical foundation of BBC's Pre-Counseling Ministries program has prepared me for my future by giving me confidence that healing and restoration are attainable for each person who is willing to let God transform his or her life. Because God is the changing agent in each person's life, I can confidently go to Him and His Word for truth and wisdom to help others live their daily lives to the fullest." – Diana Griffieth, BBC student   "BBC's Counseling Ministries program prepared me to go into the work force, and equipped me for church counseling and counseling in the secular workplace. The theological perspective on counseling was a solid foundation and is of great value in my work." – Kassandra Engfer, 1995 graduate, Professor of Psychology, Counseling, and Communication at Davis College, Johnson City, NY

For more information about the Counseling Ministries program, contact Professor Lynelle Buchanan .