Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling

Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts (BS/MA)

Learn to strengthen families and marriages through Christ-centered counseling.

Study Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling at LBC

Provide Healing and Hope to Hurting Families

All families struggle. Learn how to support them in their times of need.

LBC’s marriage, couple and family counseling degree gives students a deep understanding of marriage and family issues – and equips them to address them head-on.

Throughout our masters in marriage, couple and family counseling program, students examine their own personal experiences and expectations, study the role and importance of marriage and family from a biblical perspective and learn the fundamental skills of effective counseling and therapy. At LBC, you’ll learn how to become a counselor rooted in the truth of Scripture. This unique, 5-year track program allows highly motivated students to build their knowledge and skills in professional counseling, allows them to earn a Master of Arts in Counseling in an accelerated fashion and prepares them for state licensure.

Why Study Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling at LBC?

  • You can receive both undergraduate and graduate degrees in just five years.
  • Students who graduate from the program will be prepared for professional licensure.
  • You’ll learn and study under experienced Christian professionals who actively work as counselors and therapists.
  • Earn your MFT degree from an accredited Bible college.
Your Journey

Program Credits: 163

Locations: Lancaster


Degree

Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts with majors in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling and Biblical Studies
Learn about licensure/certification for this major


Internships
Here are some examples of internships completed by students in the past:

  • Church Counseling Center Intern
  • Private Practice Intern
  • Parachurch Organization Intern

Options

  • Traditional
  • Online & Evening (Adult Education)
  • Available as Minor

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

A Closer Look: Counseling

Ryan Kuehner.

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

1

Day Butcher, EdD

Assistant Professor

“Teachers possess the power to create conditions that can help students learn a great deal or keep them from learning much at all.” Parker, P. J. (2007). The courage to teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher’s life.” – San Francisco: Jossey Bass/Wiley

Read Bio
1

Jon Shacklett, MA

Assistant Professor

“We can get beyond merely embracing the tensions between piety and learning by fostering a piety for learning, by becoming the kind of people who see deeply into the reality of things and who love that reality–for the Savior who shed his blood for us also descended into the deep places of the creation so that he might fill all things. Jesus not only rules over every square inch of the creation, he also loves those square inches.” -Richard Mouw

Read Bio

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 212 – Systems of Counseling II: Psychology

This course surveys the various psychological systems of counseling beginning with the early pioneers extending to the most recent therapeutic methodologies. Consideration is given for an eclectic approach that utilizes a foundational methodology with intervention strategies from various schools of thought.

CPS 541 – Group Counseling Leadership Skills

This is a clinical course designed to give students their first training in the theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Emphasis will be given to identifying and developing group leadership skills. Practical group experience outside of class will be required.

CPS 520 – Applied Counseling and Psychological Methodologies

This course will introduce the student to a variety of traditional counseling methodologies along with our appraisal from an evangelical biblical perspective. Students will also have opportunities to develop a breadth of concrete and functional skills to facilitate helping of the “whole” person. Consideration will also be given to contemporary issues facing the practitioner.

CPS 530 – Professional Ethics in Counseling and Psychological Casework

A study of ethical principles as they apply to situations of counseling others will be conducted by means of case study. Students will be expected to grow in their level of judgment for decision making in the context of potential ethical dilemmas and challenges.

CPS 520 – Applied Counseling and Psychological Methodologies

This course will introduce the student to a variety of traditional counseling methodologies along with our appraisal from an evangelical biblical perspective. Students will also have opportunities to develop a breadth of concrete and functional skills to facilitate helping of the “whole” person. Consideration will also be given to contemporary issues facing the practitioner.

CPS 540 – Marriage Counseling and Psychotherapy

This course is designed to explore the major models of couple therapy as well as biblical concepts foundational to marriage and relationship. The class will also consider materials on major ruptures of the relational bond. Through readings, lectures, video tapes and classroom participation, theoretical perspectives and therapeutic techniques will be presented.

CPS 550 – Family Counseling and Psychotherapy

This is a crucial course for defining family relationships on the basis of biblical principles and a systematic model of understanding. Healthy and unhealthy family dynamics will be understood and provide a basis for the goals of counseling families. Family dynamics will be understood from a generational and larger church family perspective. The student will understand a variety of models and build a counseling process primarily from the systemic model. Nurture, prevention, and intervention into families in a ministry or clinical context will be discovered and implemented.

Careers and Jobs in Marriage & Family Counseling

  • Clinical Case Manager
  • Counseling Pastor
  • Counseling Psychology
  • Marriage and Family Therapist
  • Professional Counselor

What’s your next step?