Pastoral Studies

Helping People in Crisis

This course is a study of helping skills for pastors which reviews basic counseling principles, working with people in crisis situations, in times of grief, and in times of death and dying.

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Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive guide to pastoral care and counseling, equipping learners with essential skills for supporting individuals through various life challenges. Beginning with an exploration of how Jesus modeled care and interaction, students will learn the fundamentals of attending behavior, microskills, and counseling techniques. The course delves into the counseling process, from initiating sessions to goal setting and resolution, while also addressing the history and contemporary models of pastoral care. Learners will gain insights into crisis intervention, psychological first aid, depression, and spiritual crises, along with practical tools for providing compassionate and effective care within the church setting.

Beyond individual counseling, the course also focuses on relationships, marriage, family dynamics, and conflict resolution in the church. Lessons cover key topics such as blended families, abuse intervention, church leadership in conflict, and the role of a caring congregation. Learners will explore professional responsibilities, ethical considerations, and best practices for maintaining personal well-being as a pastoral caregiver. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to build a strong, supportive community, ensuring that their ministry meets the spiritual and emotional needs of those they serve.

Course Lesson Titles

Lesson 1: Helping Skills: Learning to Care Like Jesus
Lesson 2: Helping Skills: Earning the Right To Be Heard
Lesson 3: Helping Skills: Speaking the Truth in Love
Lesson 4: Church Model of Care: The Ministry of Pastoral Care
Lesson 5: Church Model of Care (Part 1)
Lesson 6: Church Model of Care (Part 2)
Lesson 7: Personal Crises
Lesson 8: Personal Crises: Psychological First Aid
Lesson 9: Personal Crises: Depression and Suicide
Lesson 10: Personal Crises: How to Better Crisis-Proof Your Life by Considering Biblical Examples
Lesson 11: Marital Crises: Covenant and Marriage
Lesson 12: Marital Crises: Conflict and Marriage
Lesson 13: Marital Crises: Comfort and Marriage
Lesson 14: Family Crises: How Families Work and the Crises They Face

Lesson 15: Family Crises: Crises Related to the "Blending" of Families
Lesson 16: Family Crises: Responding to Abuse and Other Crises Families Experience
Lesson 17: Pastoral Counseling Issues: Ethics in Counseling (Part 1)
Lesson 18: Pastoral Counseling Issues: Ethics in Counseling (Part 2)
Lesson 19: Pastoral Counseling Issues: Stress and Burnout
Lesson 20: Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Basic Skills in Relationships
Lesson 21: Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Group Dynamics in Crises
Lesson 22: Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Dealing With Crises in the Local Church (Part 1)
Lesson 23: Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Dealing With Crises in the Local Church (Part 2)
Lesson 24: Grief, Death, Dying and Bereavement:a General Overview of the Dynamics of Grief
Lesson 25: Grief, Death, Dying and Bereavement: Phases of Grief and a Counseling Response
Lesson 26: Grief, Death, Dying and Bereavement: The Experience of Dying and the Church's Response
Lesson 27: Summary Panel (Part 1)
Lesson 28: Summary Panel (Part 2)