Courses

An advanced course in Marital and Family Therapy, the course will focus on theories of family therapy, practical application of theory to therapy situations, clinical skill building and spiritual issues as they relate to Marriage and Family Therapy. It is assumed that students have had prior learning of Systems Theory. Students will be required to actively participate in the learning modules. Students will be required to apply the concepts learned to personal and group projects. Issues that are related to diversity and power and privilege as they relate to the areas of age, gender, sexual orientation, health/ability, culture, SES, spirituality, and ethnicity will also be addressed.

This course provides students with an introduction to group theory and acquisition of group leadership skills. Also included will be group development, ethical considerations, and the use of groups in church, parachurch and community mental health settings. The course will be taught from a relational/systems perspective. Using key theories of group counseling and family systems models, the class will explore attachment issues, recapitulation of family of origin in the group, boundary setting, and other individual/relational dynamics that occur in group work. The course includes an in-class group experience for facilitation skill building and person of the therapist development.

This course examines the major legal and ethical issues involved in the practice of therapy. Special attention is given to the American Association of Marriage and Family ethical standards, the laws of British Columbia regarding the practice of therapy, uniquely to Christian perspectives and responsibilities. Issues that are related to diversity and power and privilege as they relate to the areas of indigenous culture and history, age, gender, sexual orientation, health/ability, culture, SES, spirituality, and ethnicity will also be addressed.

As an advanced course in Marital and Family Therapy, MFT670 will focus on the systemic issues and treatment of couples and families addressing essential topics like divorce, remarriage, stepfamily and blended family issues, severe illness and death, sexuality, and intimacy as well as violence and sexual abuse. Issues that are related to diversity and power and privilege as they relate to the areas of age, gender, sexual identity, health/ability, culture, SES, spirituality, and ethnicity will also be addressed.

This course provides students with clinical understanding regarding substance use, addictions and domestic violence offering a trauma-informed assessment and treatment. Students will learn to appreciate the complexity of substance use disorders, diversity of care, and providing informed referrals to evidence-based support services. They will learn to conceptualize and treat families in crisis in a systemic way, promoting recovery, safety, wellness, and harm reduction to improve care and support for those with substance use and addiction. The course will also emphasize understanding trauma and domestic violence and focus on conceptualization, assessment, treatment planning and appropriate referrals.

This course offers an innovative approach to exploring current theoretical trends and therapeutic strategies when working with children, adolescents, and their families. The course will be taught from a systemic perspective while taking into account the special needs of the individual child. One of the major components of the course will involve Dr. Gordon Neufeld’s Intensive course: Making Sense of Kids. The course will explore the dynamics of “stuckness” in childhood and adolescence through Dr. Neufeld’s comprehensive attachment-based developmental model. This course will cover a three-pronged approach to effecting deep and lasting change, with a deeper look at the interplay of attachment, maturation, and vulnerability.

This course focuses on cognitive, physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual development of the person throughout the lifespan, from birth to death. Students will examine central concepts related to parameters of human individual and social development - with a focus on the Family Life Cycle, from both a conceptual and personal perspective. Focus is also on clinical assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, case management and therapeutic interventions as they relate to transitional crisis across the lifespan, appropriate to the cultural and developmental sensitivities of the client and the family.