Program Goals

The Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree program is to nurture and equip Christians to become a servant companion counselor or a servant professional counselor. This program highlights blending elements of Christian faith and spiritual direction into counseling theories and practices. Experiential learning like personal growth, spiritual formation, communal interaction, counseling practicum and others equips students to become Christian counselors of high quality to establish and develop a caring ministry of Christian counseling service.

After completion, students would acquire:

• Enhancement of personal growth to help themselves and others;
• Mastery and application of the Christianity and spiritual direction on counseling theories and practices;
• An understanding of the psychology and spiritual needs of various serving population across different phases of life;
• An understanding of various critical issues in counseling including but not limited to mental health, culture, research and assessment for counseling;
• Mastery and application of the Christian counseling ethics code in practice;
• Application of what have learned to counseling, caring or related ministry.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an institution recognized by LTS; and
• Two prerequisite courses (6 credits) of Essential Counseling Skills and Personal Growth; otherwise, admitted students should fulfill the requirement via the course at LTS on an extra-credit basis; the prerequisite courses can also be exempted by the Foundation Certificate in Christian Counseling from the Companion LeShalom Centre; and
• Applicants must have been baptized for at least one year prior to application for study; and
• Applicants should have the interests, aptitudes, and personal qualities necessary for this program; and
• The ability to engage in graduate-level study for academic pursuits and personal development.

Program Content

Students are required to take 5 credits of experiential courses, 24 credits of basic counseling theoretical and practical courses, 9 credits of guided electives on counseling, 4 credits of counseling practicum (stream B) or free electives (stream A), and plus 15 sessions of personal growth counseling. Students are required to pay extra fees for practicum supervision, personal growth counseling and camps apart from the tuition (charges according to the scale of related institutes).

Further Study

A Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree holder can continue to study for the Master of Divinity / Master of Arts in specific emphasis / Master of Arts in Theology programs at LTS and credits can be exempted.

(course credits in brackets)

i) Experiential Courses

CP2039 Experiential Process in Counseling (5)

ii) Basic Counseling Theoretical and Practical Courses

CP2012 Theories and Practice in Group Counseling (3)

CP2034 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (3)

CP2035 Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (3)

CP2036 Counseling Theories and Practices (3)

CP2037/CT2007 Counseling Ethics and Culture (3)

CP2043/SW2046 Developmental Psychology and Spiritual Growth (3)

CP3016 Research and Assessment for Counseling (3)

CP3017 Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques (3)

iii) Guided Electives on Counseling (choose 3 courses) (9)

Integrative Counseling Courses

　CP2010/OT2032/NT2037 Biblical Perspectives on Christian Counseling

　CP2026/SW2021 Emotions & Spirituality

　CP2038/SW2045 Kardia Formation and the Spiritual Exercise

　CP4001/SW4001 Integrative Seminar on Counseling and Spiritual Direction

Theory and Practice in Different Populations

　CP2002 Child Counseling

　CP2003 Adolescent Counseling

　CP2004 Geriatric Counseling

　CP2005 Marital Counseling

　CP2007 Grief Counseling

　CP2014 Theories and Practice of Family Therapy

iv) Counseling Practicum

CP2040 Counseling Practice: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (1)

CP2042 Counseling Practice: Satir Model (1)

CP3024-3025 Professional Counseling Practicum I & II; or

CP3028-3029 Companion Counseling Practicum I & II; or

CP3028 Companion Counseling Practicum I and CP3019 Group Counseling Practicum (2)

v) Others

Personal Growth Counseling (15 sessions)

Stream A (Theoretical Based)

Experiential Courses (5)

Basic Counseling Theoretical and Practical Courses (24)

Guided Electives on Counseling (9)

Free Electives (4)

Total Credits Required for Graduation (42)

Stream B (Professional/Companion Practicum)

Experiential Courses (5)

Basic Counseling Theoretical and Practical Courses (24)

Guided Electives on Counseling (9)

Counseling Practicum (4)

Total Credits Required for Graduation (42)