A course intended to teach, from a Christian perspective, a comparative overview of the philosophies, goals, and techniques of major counseling theories as applied to marriages and families, with a particular emphasis on a systems approach.

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify the features of the major theories that influence family counseling, with emphasis placed on Family Systems theories.
2. Acquire a familiarity and comfort with the terminology and language of family counseling.
3. Recognize the significant methods and techniques commonly used in marriage and family counseling.
4. Engender an emotional bond and experience new insight with his or her family of origin through personal Family-of-Origin Genogram.
5. Experience the emotional journey of a married couple through the life span.
6. Apply the principles and values suggested in family system theory and marriage theory to case studies, to his or her own family, and in effective family ministry.
7. Recognize and discuss the characteristics of the functional and dysfunctional family system and the chronic cultural influence on these families.
8. Create a specific presentation on marriage and family for a particular ministry setting.

There are no prerequisites for this course.