Helping People in Crisis

In his book, When Your Upright World Turns Upside Down, Charles W. Conn defines a crisis as “a life-altering time, event or circumstance.” He adds, “In the medical profession, a crisis is that point in the course of a disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading to either recovery or death. In general society, a crisis is a time, event or situation that profoundly influences the course of future events. Thus, there are political, economic and social crises, such as war, famine, depression and natural disasters.

“Even in the Christian body there are crises that profoundly influence the course of the church.” In Helping People In Crisis, the writers discuss the nature of a crisis and offer skillful guidance in dealing with a variety of crises. Readers gain the benefit of many combined years of research and experience in addressing crises. The formulas offered and the case histories presented will serve as valuable resources.

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, students will be able to…

1. Identify and use the helping skills outlined in this course.
2. Conduct basic counseling sessions for the following situations:
   1. Personal crises
   2. Marital crises
   3. Family crises
   4. Burnout
3. Counsel and bring comfort to those who are experiencing grief, death, dying, and bereavement.
4. Identify pastoral ethics in counseling.

1. Helping Skills: Learning to Care Like Jesus
2. Helping Skills: Earning the Right To Be Heard
3. Helping Skills: Speaking the Truth in Love
4. Church Model of Care: The Ministry of Pastoral Care
5. Church Model of Care: Part 1
6. Church Model of Care: Part 2
7. Personal Crises
8. Personal Crises: Psychological First Aid
9. Personal Crises: Depression and Suicide
10. Personal Crises: How to Better Crisis-Proof Your Life by Considering Biblical Examples
11. Marital Crises: Covenant and Marriage
12. Marital Crises: Conflict and Marriage
13. Marital Crises: Comfort and Marriage
14. Family Crises: How Families Work and the Crises They Face
15. Family Crises: Crises Related to the “Blending” of Families
16. Family Crises: Responding to Abuse and Other Crises Families Experience
17. Pastoral Counseling Issues: Ethics in Counseling: Part 1
18. Pastoral Counseling Issues: Ethics in Counseling: Part 2
19. Pastoral Counseling Issues: Stress and Burnout
20. Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Basic Skills in Relationships
21. Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Group Dynamics in Crises
22. Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Dealing With Crises in the Local Church: Part 1
23. Relationship and Group Dynamics in Crises: Dealing With Crises in the Local Church: Part 2
24. Grief, Death, Dying and Bereavement: A General Overview of the Dynamics of Grief
25. Grief, Death, Dying and Bereavement: Phases of Grief and a Counseling Response
26. Grief, Death, Dying and Bereavement: The Experience of Dying and the Church’s Response
27. Summary Panel: Part 1
28. Summary Panel: Part 2

Video Lesson 1: Helping Skills: Learning to Care Like Jesus