2023 Albuquerque Fundamentals Training

Students will see how from the very beginning humanity has always been dependent on the Word of God, with biblical counseling being an extension of that. They will learn the Bible-based mandate for counseling and its focus on the heart, the Bible’s superior answers to the secular thinking, the role of sanctification in counseling, as well as get a taste of the action as they are walked through the flow of a counseling session. The lessons within this course include:

• The Mandate for Biblical Discipleship Counseling
• The Bible’s Superior Answers to Secular Thought
• The Context for Biblical Discipleship Counseling and the Role of the Church
• Sanctification: The Process of Growth
• Session Progression: The Flow of a Counseling Appointment
• Getting to the HEART of the Matter

Because biblical counseling finds its origin in the character of God, the theology coursework focuses on the theological necessities of biblical counseling. Students will gain an adequate view of God, self, sin, and the work of the Holy Spirit as it pertains to the counseling process. They will also learn the critical nature of grace and repentance. Finally, students will gain expertise in the use of the whole Bible, in proper context, to expertly care for people. The lessons within this course include:

• An Adequate View of God for Biblical Counseling
• The Work of the Holy Spirit in Biblical Counseling
• An Adequate View of Self and Sin for Biblical Counseling
• Grace in Biblical Counseling
• Hermeneutics in Biblical Counseling
• The Critical Role of Repentance in Biblical Counseling

While there are many effective methods of counseling, the ones that produce competent counselors share several common themes. Students will learn to gather data through effective question asking and relationship building expertly. They will be taught how to give hope in the darkest of human suffering, and when necessary, give directive counseling or correction. The student will also learn how to bring a counseling relationship to a close. The lessons within this course include: 

• Gathering Data and Finding the Problem
• Developing Relationship/Rapport and Giving Hope
• Effective Question Asking
• Homework That Helps
• Being Human: Understanding Trials, Suffering, and Grief
• Giving Directive Counsel and/or Ending the Relationship

Today’s culture has a very different understanding of marriage and family than it did in Jesus’ day. The marriage and family coursework focuses on biblical manhood, biblical womanhood, and God’s design for marriage. Students will also learn critical skills to provide competent counsel for couples and families, including training on communication, redemptive parenting, and the dangerous effects of sexual sin. The lessons within this course include:

• Biblical Manhood
• Biblical Womanhood
• Marriage: A Biblical Covenant
• Biblical Communication
• Redemptive Parenting
• The Pornography Epidemic

Culture wrongly accuses the Bible of no longer being valid. Students will learn this is far from the case. They will learn about medication, collaboration with the medical community, and how it is to be an asset and not a hindrance to a counselee who struggles this way. There is also specific training on other cultural hot button items, such as depression, guilt, anxiety, and the need for forgiveness to biblically treat the whole person, body, and soul. The lessons within this course include:

• Meds or Magic? What Are We Really Talking About?
• Medication Use in Biblical Counseling
• Overcoming Depression
• Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety
• Overcoming Anger
• Overcoming Guilt
• Forgiving and Forgiving