Students develop a theological framework with which to engage those who experience pain and hardship. The course addresses the importance of holistic mission through caring for the pastoral, spiritual, medical, and health-related needs of those experiencing illnesses, disabilities, cancer, etc. Assessment items include reading, lectures, case-study projects, discussion forums, and service projects pointed to a global area of interest.

Foundations of mental health is an introductory course for graduate level students. It focuses on a wide variety of practice approaches and issues that will be explored in greater depth. The course introduces essentials of mental health and the building of a therapeutic alliance (e.g. therapeutic listening skills, basic interviewing, empathy training, mental status assessment).

Through reading, discussion, and experience students gain understanding of a wide range of creative arts modalities and therapeutic approaches. Students may elect to focus on one specific type of creative arts therapy: Art (drawing, painting, sculpting), poetry, journaling, storytelling, dance/movement, sand play, music (instruments and singing) that they are most interested in exploring. Students will also research the various creative arts professional organizations that exist and determine the qualifications for becoming certified, if desired.

Provides an introduction to counseling theories and principles used by professional counselors; basic counseling skills used by professional and non-professional counselors; and theories and approaches used by Christian counselors. Compares and contrasts traditional “talk” counseling with creative arts approaches. Students implement techniques learned in class in their place of work or ministry, critique these approaches, and report back to classmates for feedback.

Provides an understanding of the relationship between body, mind and spirit and how this connection can provide tools for understanding the intersubjective therapeutic process in creative arts therapies. Introduces students to Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious. Provides students with a foundational understanding of group theory and practice. It examines concepts such as the stages of group development, group member roles, the therapist’s role, and leadership styles as well as the types of groups and their differing group goals, objectives, and techniques. As part of the course, students facilitate their own group alternating as leaders and observers.

Evaluates cultural competence as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together and are translated into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of ministry. Students will assess the effectiveness of operating in different cultural contexts beyond knowledge, sensitivity, and awareness through the use of creative arts therapies.

Provides students with knowledge and skills to work from a family systems perspective with adults, adolescents and children in a wide variety of settings that include individuals, couples, several members of a family, peer groups, work associates, schools, classrooms, organizations, and churches. Assessment and intervention from a creative arts perspective are applied within this context, with a goal of strengthening families and other systems, and the individuals within these systems. Prepares students to defend the use of creative arts therapy in transcending all levels of communication within the family system.

Students gain a working knowledge of the Code of Ethics for various creative arts associations, including the North American Drama Therapy Association, the American Musical Therapy Association, and the American Art Therapy Association, as well as general standards for ethical practices in the psychotherapy and counseling fields. Key ethical or legal issues encountered in the internship or drawn from readings are examined. A cross-cultural counseling section will be included in this course. Potential situations are sociodramatically presented and discussed.