Biblically Based

Our curriculum is saturated with Scripture and will guide students in how to counsel from the Bible.

Doctrinally Reformed

Our curriculum is deeply rooted in the tenets of the Reformed faith.

Practically Oriented

Covers a plethora of counseling topics that will prepare students for future counseling situations.

About the Course

This training program equips pastors, elders, and church members with biblical principles for addressing the problems of life. We will cover topics such as biblical and theological principles for counseling, methods of counseling, and instruction on various counseling topics (pornography, anger, marriage, depression, etc.). Students who fulfill all the requirements for the course will earn a certificate of completion that will satisfy the educational requirement for IRBC certification. 

Meet Your Instructor

Jared Poulton serves as Executive Director of the Institute for Reformed Biblical Counseling, as well as pastor of counseling and teaching at Cornerstone URC, and visiting professor of biblical counseling at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in biblical counseling from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jared lives in Hudsonville, Michigan, with his wife and four children. When he is not working, Jared enjoys exploring the beautiful state of Michigan with his family.

Class Location - Zoom (online)

This class will meet monthly via Zoom at 7:00 PM (CST) for discussion and interaction with the course material. This class will be led by IRBC-certified counselor Dr. Gary Cookson.  Zoom meetings will be recorded for those who are unable to attend a particular session, or whose time zone is prohibitive to this meeting time. Please discuss your situation with your class coordinator prior to the start of the course.

Class Requirements

Textbooks

Please purchase the following books for this course: The Gospel for Disordered Lives by Robert Jones, Kristin Kellen, and Rob Green How People Change by Paul David Tripp and Timothy Lane Saints, Sinners, and Sufferers by Michael Emlet A Biblical Counseling Process by Lauren Whitman

A working computer with reliable internet connection

While videos are observable via phone or tablet, students are expected to own a laptop for taking notes and joining regular Zoom calls with other students.

Skills in navigating basic online software

Students are expected to be able to demonstrate basic competency in Email (must have active email account), Microsoft Word, and navigating our online training portal.

The syllabus

24 Chapters · 104 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 1 - What is Biblical Counseling?

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      Lesson 2 - Defining Reformed Biblical Counseling

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 1-2

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 1-2

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      Lesson 3 - History of Biblical Counseling and the IRBC

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      Lesson 4 - God, Our Counselor

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 3-4

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapter 3-4

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 5 - Me, A Counselor?

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      Lesson 6 - The Doctrine of Scripture and Counseling

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 5-6

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 5-6

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 7 - Christian Counseling vs. Secular Counseling

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      Lesson 8 - The Doctrine of Man for Counseling

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 7-8

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 7-8

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Oct. 1 at 7PM (CST)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 9 - The Doctrine of Sin and Counseling

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      Lesson 10 - The Gospel and Counseling

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 9-10

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 9-11

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      Lesson 11 - The Church, God's Community of Counselors

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      Lesson 12 - How the Church Helps Counselors

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 11-12

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      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 12-13

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      Lesson 13 - Sanctification, How People Change

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      Lesson 14 - The Heart and Counseling

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 13-14

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      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 14-15

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Oct. 22 at 7 PM (CST)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 15 - The Body and Counseling

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      Lesson 16 - Medication, Psychological Diagnoses and Counseling

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      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 15-16

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 16-17

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 17 - Preparing for Your First Counseling Case

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      Lesson 18 - A Process of Change - Realization

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 1-2

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 18-19

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Supplementary Files

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      Lesson 19 - A Process of Change - Transformation

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      Lesson 20 - A Process of Change - Reformation

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 3-5

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 20-21

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 21 - Practical Tips for Counseling

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      Lesson 22 - Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 6-7

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 22-23

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Nov. 19 at 7 PM (CST)

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      Lesson 23 - Assurance of Salvation

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      Lesson 24 - Counseling Fear and Anxiety

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 8-9

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 24-25

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 25 - Counseling Suffering

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      Lesson 26 - Counseling Depression

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 10-12

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      Required Reading: Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners, Chapters 26-27

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 27 - Counseling Grief and Loss

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      Lesson 28 - Confronting Physical Issues

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 13-15

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Intro and Chapter 1

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Jan. 28 at 7PM (CST)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 29 - A Biblical Understanding of Marriage

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 30 - Principles for Premarital Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 16-18

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapters 2-3

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 31 - The Biblical Calling of Husbands

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 32 - The Biblical Calling of Wives

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 19-20

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapters 4-5

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 33 - Guidelines for Marriage Counseling

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      Lesson 34 - Counseling Singleness and Dating

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      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 21-23

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 6

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 35 - A Biblical Approach to Parenting

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 36 - Counseling Children

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 24-25

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 7

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Feb. 25 at 7 PM (CST)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 37 - A Biblical Understanding of Conflict

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 38 - Counseling People in Conflict

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 26-28

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 8

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 39 - Counseling Anger

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      Lesson 40 - A Biblical Framework for Human Sexuality

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 29-30

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapters 9-10

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 41 - Counseling Lust

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 42 - Counseling Pornography and Self-Pleasure

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 31-33

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapters 11-12

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Mar. 25 at 7 PM (CST)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 43 - A Counseling Process for an Affair

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 44 - A Biblical Understanding of Confession, Repentance, and Forgiveness

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 34-36

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 13

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 45 - Counseling Identity Issues

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 46 - Counseling Addictions

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 37-38

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 14

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 47 - Biblical Wisdom for Technology and Social Media

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 48 - Growing as a Biblical Counselor

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: The Gospel for Disordered Lives, Chapters 39-40

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 15 and Afterward

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion - Apr. 15 at 7 PM (CST)

Ready to begin your journey to becoming a Reformed biblical counselor? 

Secure your spot in this course today! 

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