Study Professional Counseling at LBC
Learning How to Provide Healing from the Great Healer
If helping others who are struggling is your passion, consider studying professional counseling at LBC. Our uniquely-formatted program allows for a broad view of the discipline of professional counseling, all while providing you with an education centered on a Christian view of the person.
Everyone has struggles and everyone needs help at some point. When you study professional counseling at LBC, you’ll learn how to provide professional, research-based support and hope for all members of society. This four-year program prepares students to go on and earn their master’s degree in professional counseling in order to become a licensed and practicing professional in the state of Pennsylvania.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward learning how to be a professional instrument of support, hope, change, and healing, consider studying professional counseling at LBC.
Why Study Counseling at LBC?
- Through our professional counseling major, you’ll graduate prepared to enter the field and go on and earn your master’s degree.
- Study under experienced, professional counselors who continue to practice counseling in a variety of settings.
- Learn about counseling from a Christian perspective in the context of an intimate learning community – our professor to student ratio is 15:1.
- Earn your degree from an accredited Bible college in PA.
A Closer Look: Counseling
Get an overview of Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School’s counseling programs, hear from our faculty and students in the counseling programs, and see if LBC | Capital is where God is leading you.
Meet the Faculty
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Judd Buckwalter
Program Coordinator: Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling
“What motivates me to teach is seeing the overwhelming need for a biblically solid and emotionally healthy counselors who desire to love people in Jesus name.” — Mr. Buckwalter
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Dr. Ryan Kuehner
Chair, Counseling & Social Work Dept. and Director, M.A. in Professional Counseling (PA)
“Arguably the most encompassing demonstration of the commonalities between professional counseling and God’s Word can be seen in Christ’s declaration ‘…but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.’ This not only informs the work we do and the way we teach, but also who we are and who we become.” — Dr. Kuehner
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Dr. Freeman Chakara
Professor
“There is nothing more humbling to me than to collaborate with the Lord in supporting His work in the lives of my students here at LBC.” — Dr. Chakara
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Sample Course Outline
PCN 122 – Group Experience & Self-Evaluation
The course provides students with an in depth self-evaluation for both personal development and professional development for the human services field. Student learning occurs through in-class instruction and group participation during class. The teaching method is experiential in nature. The course consists of an off campus weekend seminar during the first semester of the freshman year. Students will be required to read a textbook on spiritual formation and complete a reflection journal post seminar.
PCN 201 – Systems of Counseling I: Christian
This course examines the history of Christian counseling as it relates to the integration of theology and psychology. Consideration is given for the broad range of approaches including: biblical counseling, levels-of-explanation, integration, and Christian psychology. Course content includes study and application of the principles and methods for effective biblical change.
SOC 228 – Principles & Techniques of Counseling
This introductory course aims to apprise students of the basic tools necessary for effective counseling. As might be expected, the course covers a broad range of topics ranging from professional ethics to specific techniques used in therapy. Although most of the current theories and techniques are not necessarily derived from specific scriptural texts, a biblical worldview is foundational to the views advanced in this class. To that end, students are encouraged to interact with several sources outside the classroom setting in order to provide rich illustrations for the benefit of their classmates.
PCN 332 – Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology is a course designed to introduce students to various emotional conditions. Utilizing a seminar-type format, the class integrates key case studies into the main structure of the course. This process involves students and the instructor, thereby enhancing the learning process. That is, students participate in team teaching opportunities in order to combine lecture and case study material. Students discuss mood/state problems along with personality disorders in a way that underscores the extent of Adam’s fall as expressed in human nature.
PCN 322 – Group Leadership Skills
This course builds upon the contents of PCN 122 Group Experience and Self-Evaluation. The course focuses on the development of knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and facilitating group process. This course is conceptual and experiential in nature, introducing the student to various group models, issues of group dynamics, group process, leadership styles, and group facilitation skills. The student also demonstrates these skills through leadership of an actual group.
PCN 422 – Intercultural Counseling Experience
This cross-cultural counseling course seeks to provide the student with exposure to counseling ministry within diverse populations. The structure of the course entails one week off campus in a selected location outside Pennsylvania. Students are given materials to read prior to travel. Ministry opportunities will vary according to location. Participation in student groups for self-evaluation comprises the majority of the overall experience. Ministry at the chosen location consists of service to residents through member care, observation of groups, co-facilitating groups, assisting family, and children ministries.
PCN 411 – Theories of Personality
This course investigates the historical theories of personality with special consideration for current trait theory. Abnormal personality and personality development relative to Christian formation are studied. Personality assessment is researched and applied through student examination and presentation. Additionally, learning occurs through course instruction, direct observational assignments, textbook, and professional literature reading.
PCN 456 – Field Service
This progression of field experience courses enables students to apply learned methodologies to real world counseling situations. Each student selects a field service site and participates in delivery of services in accordance with organization requirements. Some students encounter face to face opportunities, while others work in groups, direct care, or observation of clients.
Featured Courses
PCN 201 - Systems of Counseling I: Christian
This course examines the history of Christian counseling as it relates to the integration of theology and psychology. Consideration is given for the broad range of approaches including: biblical counseling, levels-of-explanation, integration, and Christian psychology. Course content includes study and application of the principles and methods for effective biblical change.
PCN 411 - Theories of Personality
This course investigates the historical theories of personality with special consideration for current trait theory. Abnormal personality and personality development relative to Christian formation are studied. Personality assessment is researched and applied through student examination and presentation. Additionally, learning occurs through course instruction, direct observational assignments, textbook, and professional literature reading.
Careers and Jobs in Professional Counseling
- Case Manager
- Psychiatric Aide
- Therapeutic Staff Support
- Mobile Therapist