Breyer State Theology University

Master in Christian Counseling

The online curriculum offers an innovative approach to higher education. Enrollment is open and students may begin the program at any time. All courses are provided in online classrooms, with one-to-one faculty mentoring. Students also have free access to our comprehensive Study Tactics and Resources Center, with links to subject-related websites, online libraries, articles, and research assistance. Our online degree curriculum includes:

• CRC 500 Counseling: A Christian Perspective
  Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based counseling approach that helps individuals to look at their values, find motivation, and make healthier decisions. This course provides an overview of the theoretical frameworks and practical techniques of MI which are useful for helping professionals, such as nurses and psychologists. Through this course, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of MI theory, learn how to apply MI techniques in practice and be able to assess their progress. Upon completion of this course, participants will have the skills needed to effectively use Motivational Interviewing in their professional practice.
• CRC 525 Motivational Interviewing
  This course is part of the Accelerated Christian Counseling program at Breyer State University. It is a 6-hour semester course that should be completed within six weeks. This is the same course offered as part of the Accelerated Master's and Doctorate programs in Christian Counseling. Motivational Interviewing is a way of being for the counselor, a strategy of questioning, a stance the counselor takes that helps evoke the information and response from clients that help design intervention strategies that best help the client. It redefines client resistance in a way that leads to the development of rapport with the client to achieve the client’s goals to improve their life. Please bear in mind that this is an accelerated program, so you will find the course to be fast-paced and the workload a bit more intense than what is typical in a regular program.
• CRC 550 Counseling Ethics: A Christian Perspective
  The course Counseling Ethics in Christian Perspective provides an overview of ethical issues and principles in the field of counseling from a Christian perspective. It is designed to equip counselors with the knowledge and skills needed to address ethical challenges they may encounter in their practice. This course will look at ethical guidance from various sources, including Scripture, existing codes of ethics, case studies, and more. Participants will be able to develop an understanding of how a Christian worldview provides a framework for making decisions that honor God and maintain standards of professional conduct.
• CRC 575 Treatment Planning
  This course provides an overview of Treatment Planning, a systematic and comprehensive process used in the field of healthcare to develop a plan of care for a patient. It includes the identification of needs, selection, and implementation of interventions, and evaluation of outcomes. The course will cover different models for treatment planning and strategies for developing effective plans that are tailored to individual patients. It will also discuss various use cases and best practices for approaching treatment planning. Additionally, it will explore the role that technology plays in treatment planning processes.
• CRC 600 Crisis and Grief: A Christian Perspective
  This course provides an exploration of the crisis and grief experienced by individuals and communities from a Christian perspective. It will focus on developing knowledge, understanding, and skills for responding to these situations with compassion and care. Through lectures, discussion, personal reflection, and experiential activities, participants will have the opportunity to explore major issues related to crisis, grief, loss, trauma, and faith. They will also be able to better understand how faith can help them through difficult times. This course is intended for those who are passionate about providing spiritual care in times of crisis or grief.
• CRC 625 Understanding and Treating Complicated Grief
  This course provides a comprehensive overview of complicated grief and its treatment. It offers an in-depth look at the complexities surrounding the diagnosis, treatment, and management of complicated grief. Various case studies and therapeutic strategies will be discussed to provide a better understanding of how to work with clients who are suffering from this intense emotional pain. The course will also explore the different types of interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, and pharmacological interventions. In addition, participants will learn about self-care tips for managing their own emotions during this challenging process.
• CRC 650 Multicultural Aspects of Grief
  This course provides an overview of the different cultural aspects associated with grief and bereavement. It will explore the various ways grief is expressed in different cultures, as well as how these expressions are related to cultural beliefs and values. Additionally, we will examine how different societies respond to death and loss, as well as how this response can vary according to age, gender, ethnicity, and other aspects of identity. Through this course, you will gain a better understanding of the multifaceted nature of grief and bereavement in multicultural contexts.
• CRC 675 Grief Counseling with Families
  Grief Counseling with Families is an in-depth course that provides participants with the knowledge and skills to support families going through grief. It focuses on understanding the complexities involved in grief, learning how to effectively assess family dynamics, and developing strategies for helping families manage their grief. The course also covers topics such as listening skills, providing resources for help, self-care strategies for counselors, and ethical considerations when working with grieving families. In this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of a counselor in helping families cope with their loss and heal from their grief.
• CRC 700 Grief Counseling with Children & Adolescents
  This course provides an overview of grief counseling with children and adolescents. It will cover the fundamentals of the grief process, techniques for providing grief counseling support, and working with a range of issues such as the loss of a loved one, medical diagnosis or illness, trauma or abuse, natural disaster, or displacement. Additionally, the course will explore best practices for building resilience in children and adolescents in the face of grief and adversity. By completing this course, participants will gain an understanding of how to approach grief counseling with children and adolescents in various contexts.
• CRC 725 Grief Counseling with Adults
  Grief Counseling with Adults is a course designed to provide essential knowledge and skills for those wishing to help individuals through the grieving process. Through lectures, interactive discussions, case studies, and experiential activities, this course will explore the many facets of grief in adults. Participants will gain an understanding of how to best support individuals who are dealing with loss and change in their lives. This course will also provide an overview of grief counseling theories, models, and techniques that can be used with grieving adults. By the end of this course, students should have a greater awareness of the complex emotions of grief while having developed strategies to help process loss effectively.
• CRC 750 Self-Care (optional)
  Self-care in Grief Counseling is a course designed to provide counselors with the tools and resources they need to understand and effectively help individuals facing grief. In this course, we will be exploring topics such as the different types of grief, self-care strategies, communication skills for grief counseling, and other useful tips for handling grieving clients. We will also look into relevant use cases on how counselors can apply self-care techniques in their practice to better serve their clients. Through this course, counselors will gain valuable insights into how to support their clients through their journeys of grief.
• CRC 775 Graduation Thesis/Project in Grief Counseling
  The Graduation Thesis/Project in Grief Counseling is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of grief counseling. The course will cover topics such as understanding the grieving process, providing support to individuals and families in crisis, identifying and addressing common challenges related to grief, developing effective communication skills with clients, and much more. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of research methods related to grief counseling and also discuss ethical considerations when working with clients. By the end of this course, students should be well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills required for successful practice in grief counseling.