My S will be graduating in 2 years with a psychology degree from Colorado State. He would like to get his masters (Marriage and Family counseling or Child ) but would like a Christian perspective. Any recommendations? or any warnings?
Open to any Location.
Make sure that the program is one that will allow him to become a licensed therapist, rather than just a church professional. Christian perspective can always be added but it helps to have valid clinical certification.
Some liberal seminaries have excellent pastoral counseling courses that he could take as a lay person to hep provide Christian perspectives. Moravian Theological seminary in Bethlehem PA is one. Perhaps he could take courses at a seminary while doing clinical studies at another graduate school.
As a pastor, I have worked with people who told me horror stories about women who were told by “Christian counselors” that they HAD to stay with abusive husbands because of their marriage vows, or that the wife always had to submit to her husband’s wishes and opinions, rather than come to compromise or heeding the wife’s more knowledgeable/workable ideas. Others have been told that they can “pray away” their depression, or that, like the Prodigal Father, never give up hope (sorry, but some people will never change and relationships sometimes need to be severed).
I have worked with therapists and counselors in the past, and all have been trained in secular schools. Yet each felt free to discuss spiritual issues and aspects to relationship matters and my abusive childhood.