Living Wisdom Course
Tuition in Counselling Skills, Psychology, Theology and Relationships
This course teaches basic competency in Pastoral Therapy to anyone with a desire to improve their own life, heal the lives of their family/friends, and acquire basic helping/counselling skills, for the wider community. This course was founded by David and Rosemary Riddell, and will be taught primarily by Christopher Defibaugh. Christopher has had ten years experience of full time ministry, as a youth pastor, discipleship and teaching pastor, and now as the director of Relate training and counselling services Ltd.Described affectionately as ’a check-up from the neck-up’, and ’uncommonly common sense’; it has been widely attended by more than 2,000 students from all walks of life, over the past 15 years.
OVERVIEW:
This course introduces students to the basic methodology, mental/emotional health in the context of Christianity, counselling / pastoral care skills, psychological awareness, marriage/relational/sexual issues, toxic religious insights, and theological input.Course Details
For dates of upcoming living wisdom courses, click here.Assignments are given which students complete at home. Students are expected to set their own pace in regard to their selected reading.
FEES:
The full fee of $750 covers tuition, texts, and one professional counselling session. This is a flat rate applying to all students. A $100 non refundable deposit will secure a place.Course Curriculum
Personal Growth:
Introduction to Glossary—putting up the shelves.Understanding how our Memory Works—so we remember more of what we learn!
Surviving the ‘Overloaded’ Phenomena—tools to cope
Fundamentals of Emotional/mental Health—where & when is my thinking sick?
Checking Assumptions—the King Lies that Pull the Strings.
Introduction to Misbelief/Insight Therapy - how is it unique?
Formative Factors & Life Defining Moments—who are we really?
Introduction to Psycho-therapy—revisit, revise, relinquish the past.
Introduction to Pastoral Therapy—A four focused balance
Family Mottos— the Earliest Conditioning, the Unspoken Rules
Unbearable Feelings—Getting used to Emotional Allergies.
Emotional Echoes—when the Heart Remembers what the Head has Forgotten
Welds—When the Brain mis-associates
Psychological Survival Kits—the Arsenal of Keeping Safe
Victimhood—The Powerless Ploy
Spot the Rescuer—Love’s Closest Counterfeit.
Understanding the Crazymaker—a ‘Spin’ on Everything
Counselling Topics:
Tools for Counsellors - includes understanding Empowering Questions, Truth CoachesTraps for Counsellors—Forewarned is Fore-armed!
Counselling Session Dynamics
Supervision—is it necessary, when and why, and by whom?
The Counselling Craft—Models of Counselling
The Mental Loop—Vicious Cycle of Emotional Torment
Pastoral Care:
Forgiveness—Leaving the Past Behind in a Healthy WayAnger—Enemy or Friend?
Unipolar Depression—Causal Analysis and Diagnostic Tools
Grief—the Painful Process of Letting Go.
Fear—Panic, Anxiety, Phobias
Escaping Addiction’s Pit—Climbing out of the Canyons
Goalsetting—Turning Dreams into Reality
Relationships:
Anatomy of a Relationship BreakdownNegotiation Skills—Achieving the Win-Win Situation—Recognising Power Games.
Marriage, Separation, Divorce—What Makes It and What Breaks It?
Soul Ties— Transference/Counter Transference—the Slippery Slope to Immorality
Sexual Awakenings—Sexual deviancy—when Erotic Desire goes Wrong
Training Children—Defensive Detachment—Development of Rebellion
Theology:
Recognising Toxic Religion—Legalism, Control, Fatalism etc.Advocate Evangelism—Finding the Point of Contact first.
Christ’s Vicarious Performance—the Missing Heart of the Gospel
Our Vulnerable God—the Forgotten Humanity of the Risen Lord
