The Basics of Biblical Counseling - Biblicalcounselingonline.org

2. While taking the Basic Training course you should complete the following reading:
a. Either: Competent to Counsel, by Jay Adams; and The Christian Counselor s
Manual, by Jay Adams.
b. Or: An Introduction to Biblical Counseling, by Wayne Mack and John
MacArthur.
3. The following is recommended reading:
a. The Christian Counselor s Casebook, by Jay Adams.
b. A Theology of Christian Counseling, by Jay Adams.
c. Seeing with New Eyes, by David Powlison.
d. The Peacemaker, by Ken Sande.
4. Observe at least ten hours of counseling (by a NANC certified counselor).
a. This can be done live at IBCD in Escondido on Mondays (and sometimes in La
Mesa on Wednesdays and Thursdays).
b. The observers meet weekly with the counselors to discuss their cases.
c. The otheroption is to buy observation DVDs from NANC.
d. Observers must complete an Observation Log which will be submitted with the
NANC application packet.
B. Phase 2 - Exams and Application.
1. Obtain an application packet from NANC s website (www.NANC.org).
2. Take the NANC exams - counseling and theology (open book).
a. Use the key reading resources and your intro notes to answer the questions on the
counseling exams.
b. Use a good systematic theology (i.e. Berkhof, Erickson, Grudem, Raymond, Hodge) to
help with the theology exam.
c. Answers should be about a paragraph in length.
d. If any of your answers is inadequate, you will be given the opportunity to rewrite that
part of the exam.
e. Make a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Don t procrastinate!
3. Make formal application to NANC, which includes obtaining recommendations from
your pastorand those who will oversee your counseling ministry.
C. Phase 3 - Mentored Supervision.
1. If you wish to be mentored in your tutorial through IBCD, you must take a Role Play
Class (three one-hour sessions) to demonstrate that you are ready to counsel.
a. This is not a NANC requirement.
b. It may be that the teacher/tutor may require that further study or work be done
before entering into the tutorial stage.
2. The counseling tutorial for 50 hoursunderthe supervision of a NANC fellow.
a. There is a shortage of NANC fellows.
b. The fifty hours can be completed through a combination of supervised live counseling,
through written reports, and through audio recordings.
c. NANC requires that the supervisor either attend or listen to audio recordings of at
least five sessions.
d. The supervisor will meet with the trainee (in person or over the phone) periodically to
discuss his/her cases.
3. The tutorial is complete when fifty hours are complete and the mentor is satisfied that the
trainee is ready.
a. The mentor will then inform NANC which will complete paperwork and issue a
certificate.
b. New NANC members are publicly recognized at the annual conference in October.
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