Biblically Based

Our curriculum is saturated with Scripture and shows students how the entire story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation connects with our lives today. 

Doctrinally Reformed

Our curriculum draws upon the riches of the Reformed tradition as summarized in the Reformed confessions as we look to ancient wisdom about contemporary problems. 

Practically Oriented

Our curriculum covers a plethora of counseling topics and specific counseling tips that will prepare pastors, elders, and church members for future counseling situations.

Class Description

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

Dr. Jared S. 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 - Bethany URC

This class will meet monthly at Bethany URC (Wyoming, MI). The discussion in this class will be led by Mark Warner. More information about your meeting schedule is forthcoming.  Meeting Address:  5401 Byron Center Ave SW Wyoming, MI 49323

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 accessing the course portal.  

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. 1

    Week 1 (Sept 7-13)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 1 - What is Biblical Counseling?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 2 - Defining Reformed Biblical Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 1-2

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  2. 2

    Week 2 (Sept 14-20)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 3 - History of Biblical Counseling and the IRBC

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 4 - God, Our Counselor

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 3-4

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  3. 3

    Week 3 (Sept 21-27)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 5 - Me, A Counselor?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 6 - The Doctrine of Scripture and Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 5-6

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  4. 4

    Week 4 (Sept 28-Oct 4)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 7 - Christian Counseling vs. Secular Counseling

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 8 - The Doctrine of Man for Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      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 (date and time to be announced)

  5. 5

    Week 5 (Oct 5-11)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 9 - The Doctrine of Sin and Counseling

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 10 - The Gospel and Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 9-10

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  6. 6

    Week 6 (Oct 12-18)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

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

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 12 - How the Church Helps Counselors

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 11-12

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  7. 7

    Week 7 (Oct 19-25)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 13 - Sanctification, How People Change

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 14 - The Heart and Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 13-14

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly Group Discussion (date and time to be announced)

  8. 8

    Week 8 (Oct 26-Nov 1)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 15 - The Body and Counseling

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 16 - Medication, Psychological Diagnoses and Counseling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: How People Change, Chapters 15-16

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  9. 9

    Week 9 (Nov 2-8)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 17 - Preparing for Your First Counseling Case

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      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

  10. 10

    Week 10 (Nov 9-15)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 19 - A Process of Change - Transformation

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 20 - A Process of Change - Transformation

    3. (Included in full purchase)

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

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  11. 11

    Week 11 (Nov 16-22)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 21 - Practical Tips for Counseling

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 22 - Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      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 (date and time to be announced)

  12. 12

    Week 12 (Jan 11-17)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 23 - Assurance of Salvation

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 24 - Counseling Fear and Anxiety

    3. (Included in full purchase)

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

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  13. 13

    Week 13 (Jan 18-24)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 25 - Counseling Suffering

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 26 - Counseling Depression

    3. (Included in full purchase)

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

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  14. 14

    Week 14 (Jan 25-31)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 27 - Counseling Grief and Loss

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 28 - Confronting Physical Issues

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      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 (date and time to be announced)

  15. 15

    Week 15 (Feb 1-7)

    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

  16. 16

    Week 16 (Feb 8-14)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 31 - The Biblical Calling of Husbands

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 32 - The Biblical Calling of Wives

    3. (Included in full purchase)

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

    4. (Included in full purchase)

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

  17. 17

    Week 17 (Feb 15-21)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 33 - Guidelines for Marriage Counseling

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 34 - Counseling Singleness and Dating

    3. (Included in full purchase)

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

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Required Reading: A Biblical Counseling Process, Chapter 6

  18. 18

    Week 18 (Feb 22-28)

    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 (date and time to be announced)

  19. 19

    Week 19 (Mar 1-7)

    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

  20. 20

    Week 20 (Mar 8-14)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 39 - Counseling Anger

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      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

  21. 21

    Week 21 (Mar 15-21)

    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 (date and time to be announced)

  22. 22

    Week 22 (Mar 29-Apr 4)

    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

  23. 23

    Week 23 (Apr 5-11)

    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

  24. 24

    Week 24 (Apr 12-18)

    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 (date and time to be announced)

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

Secure your spot in this class today! 

$250.00

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