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Lay Family Counseling Program

LAY FAMILY COUNSELING PROGRAM

COGNITIVE LEVEL (420 hours)

      Each one of the following courses requires 60 hours of work (3 Semester units) and includes classes, lectures, exercises, tests, projects, and other activities.

A-401.      FAMILY IN THE WORLD TODAY (Contemporary family sociology)

There are social phenomenons unique to the contemporary situation that has drastically changed family life. This course offers an introduction to the social-pastoral study of the family, paying special attention to the Latin American family, migration processes and the fight for survival.  It analyzes the different theories that interpret the origin of the family and its development up until the current time.  The course introduces case studies that analyze families in their social stratus and their historical development.

A-402.      FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY (Introduction to the study of behavior)

Psychology, as a behavioral study, is a relatively new discipline.  The course offerings a historical retelling of the appearance and the development of the diverse schools of psychology.  It shows the biological foundations and discusses the ways in which the Christian faith and the pastoral work of the church can correctly use the current information provided by the diverse streams of psychology.

A-403. THE VITAL FAMILY CYCLE (Human development in the family)

Human beings are constantly developing from birth until death.  This course analyzes the contributions of classic authors (Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Fowler) as well as family therapists (Minuchin, Haley, Carter & McGoldrick) and other scholars of human development.  It explores the different entry ways to the study of personal and family development.  This course offers parents, teachers, pastors, social workers, and community workers theoretical tools for a better understanding of the human nature in continual transformation.

A-404.      MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COMMUNICATION (Skills of family communication)

Only staring after the second half of the 20th century was human communication an object of systematic study that has been allowed to be studied in all of its complexity.  This course offers tools for reflection and action applicable to both personal growth (personal, marital, and family) as well as to the development of useful counseling skills. Through integration exercizes the students will learn cooporation and intimacy.

A-405.      THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY (Biblical and theological basis for pastoral care in the family)  

      Adequate pastoral work with the family requires a true theological understanding.  This course looks at family practices during the Biblical times and focuses its attention on the theological themes like creation, fall, and redemption.  It discusses the spiritual education within the home like teachings about marriage, divorce, and remarriage.  It poses pastoral challenges for family care in today’s world.

A-406.      THE FAMILY AS A SYSTEM (Exploration of the systematic focus on the family).

      The course introduces the main concepts connected to family systems and it applies them to the church and the community.  This facilitates the understanding of one’s own family of origin as well as one’s family of faith.  It considers the ways in which one can facilitate family education and counseling through the understanding of the family as a system.  Above all, the greatest privilege belongs to the person whose conscience leads them the take the role of the defined leader in the family system.  Each student makes their own genogram as an instrument of reflection and differentiation.

A-407.      BIBLE, CHURCH, SEXUALITY, AND FAMILY       (Declarations of human sexuality from churches around the world) 

God created us as sexual beings.  Sexuality from a Biblical perspective is  gift and a promise, but also a dilemma because we come from a human nature in need of redemption and because we live in an injust world.  Begginning with the discussion of what it means to be sexually healthy person, the course studies topics such as marriage, divorce, remarriage, doestic violence, singleness, homosexuality, abortion, and AIDS.  All of this is done in the light of biblical teachings and the confestions of churches around the world.

      These class can be taken through physically attending the class (the professor present), in groups that use the provided study guides, or distance classes (individual work through correspondence).  Each course has programized texts and study guides.  The student is allowed to start with any course and can continue with the desired rhythm of each group or individual.

PRACTICAL MINISTRY (80 horas)

The practical ministry level is composed of workshops that offer development experiences for personal and family growth.  The student will be given practical tried-and-true tools that can be reproduced as educational experiences in groups, churches, congregations, and neighborhoods.  This level requires satisfactory completion of four of the following worshop descriptions.  Each workshop has a “Facilitator Manual” and offers an exam over the workshop’s content.  It also requires that the student teachs on a topic that will be superviced by a teaching member of EIRENE.

Marriage Enrichment Program (PEM):

Three workshops for couples that address themes like the marital relationship growth and raising children.

Education for Life (EPV):

A workshop that trains facilitators who work towards the holistic development of adoloscents (physical, mental, social, and spiritual).

Family Crisis and Consolation (CCF):

A workshop that shows how to handle crisis theories and the necessary skills for the first intervention.

Walking with those who have HIV/AIDS:

A workshop to help prepare leaders in pastoral counseling in difficult situations like these.

SUPERVISION (100 hours)

Through the discussion of diverse models of family counseling, case study discussions, and through a supervised practicum, the student is challenged to develop the art of walking alongside an individual, a couple, or a family who are looking for positive and creative alternatives to their relationships, attitudes, and behavior which are harming and impeding their positive development.  Through recordings, written reports, and the supervision of a teaching member of EIRENE or an experienced counselor, the necessary counseling skills to be effective are perfected and polished.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

Neither CHET nor the the The International Latin American Association of Family and Pastoral Counseling (EIRENE) certifies Family Therapists  In order to work professionally as a counselor, advisor, or therapist, everyone who has finished CHET’s training and have received their certificate of Family Counselor  must also complete the legal requirements of their country of residence.