Introduction to Counselling for Ministry (CO8025Z)

Content

This unit provides an introduction to assisting others in a way which respects their autonomy and permits personal growth. Students will first be introduced to the centrality of the therapeutic alliance in creating the conditions for client change and hence therefore explore the importance of the counsellor’s 'posture' towards their client and the importance of being fully 'present'. The value of simple interventions will then be explored (e.g., lifestyle changes and psycho-education) before considering various common counselling approaches which have arisen over the last century. The scope of the counselling role for those engaged in ministry and how/when to refer to a professional counsellor or other allied service will be considered.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

This unit can be taken as part of graduate theology and ministry awards. It has no prerequisites.

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning This is a collaborative way of learning that takes note of the learner’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). By repeatedly extending the learner’s ZPD they develop a comprehensive and integrated system of knowledge/skills. Scaffolded learning is achieved through the provision of online modules which clearly guide a student’s learning; through activities of increased complexity during intensives; by face-to-face seminars which are tailored to induce academic/professional growth in an ordered and coherent way; and by assessments which not only seek to identify that key knowledge/skills have been learnt, but that the student is developing an integrated understanding of counselling.

Indicative Bibliography

• Bennett, R., & Oliver, J. (2025). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: 100 key points and techniques. Routledge.
• Bugental, J. (1992). The art of the psychotherapist. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Cory, G. (2020). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (10th edition). Cengage. (TEXTBOOK)
• Egan, G. (2018). The skilled helper (11th edition). Thomson.
• Evans-Jones, C. (2011). The CBT handbook: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Routledge.
• May, R. (2011). The art of counselling. Amereon Press.
• Lewis, T., & Wahesh, E. (2023). Motivational Interviewing in clinical mental health counselling. Routledge.
• Paljakka, S. & Stone Carlson, T. (2025). So you want to do Narrative Therapy?: Letters to an aspiring narrative therapist. Routledge.
• Ryan, P. (Ed.; 2020). Enhancing clinical case formulation: Theoretical and practical approaches for mental health practitioners. Routledge.
• Sharp, D. (1991). The survival papers. Lewellyn Publications.

Assessment