Relational restoration is central to Christian faith and practice, and to our counseling model. Therefore, the purpose of this degree is to bring the wisdom of God’s Word, the hope and power of His Gospel, and the unique relevance of the church community into the care and cure of souls, and the restoration of broken marriages and families.
Christian change is radically relational, aiming to bring restoration of relationship with God, of marriages and families, and with others. This degree aims to apply what Christ has done and is doing, (and will someday finally do) to reconcile relationships, and alleviate familial dysfunction and mental disorder.
Our counseling framework grants a uniquely constitutive role to Scripture, to the gospel of God in Christ, and to His Church. Holy Scripture is our primary “sourcebook.” We need God’s Word to interpret God’s world and the persons within it that he created in his image and likeness. Biblical and theological training are essential to full-orbed Christian counseling; therefore, our degree includes ten courses (28 credit hours) of such training.
We believe Christian counselors may learn from the social sciences, if they view them through the spectacles of Scripture and apply them toward God-glorifying ends. We can consent to and benefit from that which is true, good, and beautiful wherever it appears since God is the ultimate source of anything that is in fact true. Therefore, students will learn family systems and other models, in so far as they are products of God’s common grace.
The remainder of the courses in this degree (45 credit hours) are in family, marital, and individual counseling, with approximately half of these courses being oriented toward theoretical and conceptual foundations and the other half devoted to practical training in counseling skills and methods.
NOTE: Courses offered are intended to satisfy the educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapy licensure in North Carolina and meet the majority of requirements in most states. Courses transferred into this program from outside Southeastern are not guaranteed to satisfy the requirements for state licensure boards. All master-level programs at SEBTS are accredited by SACSCOC and ATS. Please refer to the https://www.ncbmft.org/licensure/license-application website for a thorough description of all the requirements for licensure in NC.
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