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How Doctrine Affects Mental Health
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Many issues that are considered Mental Health issues are based on fears, worries, anxieties, and other emotions that arise from what people believe or fear. In this workshop, we will discuss how emotions stem...
Plenary 2: A biblical counselor’s understanding of the influences of nature and nurture in our counselees
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Psychologists claim that people's problems can be explained by nature (their genetics) and/or nurture (their environment/parents/etc.). The Bible teaches that both nature and nurture can be influential but...
Plenary 4: The appropriate use of common grace wisdom in counseling
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Biblical counselors affirm the sufficiency of Scripture for counseling. Does this mean that there is nothing of value we can learn from sources outside the Bible? In what ways could biblical counselors benefit...
Plenary 3: The Need for Biblical Counseling
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Plenary 1: The Philosophical Understanding of People, Problems, and Counseling and Help Processes
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When the Mental Health Crisis hits home: Responding Biblically in Marriage, Parenting, and family relationships
How Do We Understand the Concept of Triggers Biblically?
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Led by Stephanie Hendrix. The concept of triggers, while not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, can be understood through the lens of biblical teachings on self-control, temptation, and personal...
Ecclesiastes and Wisdom for the Prime of Life and Old Age
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The Power of Active Counseling Training: Learn by Doing!
Train and equip competent counselors faster and more effectively using active learning structures in a "Flipped Classroom." Future counselors access IBCD video content outside of class and come together to experience active learning in the classroom community. There...
Plenary 2: Wise Counsel from the Psalms
An overview through the major themes of the Psalms and how we can apply them to various issues in counseling.
Plenary 5: Wise Counsel from Proverbs
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! The book of Proverbs offers more than general life advice—it presents a distinct kind of wisdom grounded in a covenant relationship with the Lord. In this session, we will explore the unique nature of biblical...
Discerning God’s Will: A Practical Look at Biblical Decision-Making
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Plenary 4: Wise Counsel from Ecclesiastes
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! An overview throught the major themes of Ecclesiastes and how we can apply them to the various issues in counseling.
Overcoming Self: The Ugliness of Perfectionism and the Beauty of Christ
Addressing Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviors
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Looking into the lives of such puritans as Matthew Henry, Martin Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, what was their passion for prayer, How did they define meditation -- what did they think about...
Plenary 1: Song of Songs, Being Beloved
Song of Songs 8:6-7 with an eye to how it helps us understand the whole book. I'll be examining how love poetry generally and the Song of Songs specifically shapes our understanding of God and his Word. Structurally that will include how: -Love poetry kindles desire...
Counseling Through Spiritual Dryness with Christ-Centered Wisdom
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! This seminar equips biblical counselors to address spiritual dryness with compassion and gospel truth. You will learn to identify root causes, provide empathetic care, and guide counselees toward renewed...
Running the Race Well and Finishing Strong: Lessons from Hebrews 12:1-3
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! The Christian life is a race filled with challenges and trials, yet Hebrews 12:1-3 calls believers to run with endurance. In this session, we will explore how to help the weary lay aside every weight and the...
Wise and Effective Counseling Communication Skills
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! The scriptures call us to "speak the truth in love." Biblical counselors have the reputation of getting the first part right but the second part very wrong. The intention of this breakout will be to help you...
Pre-Conference: New Morning Mercies in the Midst of Lamentations
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Grief and loss will drive us to lament. Yet we can learn from the prophet Jeremiah how to cling to the Lord when all hope seems lost. His steadfast love surrounds us and his faithfulness undergirds us. He is...
Ministering to the Grieving or Soon-to-be Grieving
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! This workshop will examine potential best practices when ministering to those who are dying and those who will be/are left behind with an emphasis on a biblical view of death.
Lamenting Together
If we're going to help people through their pain, we can't assume they know how to speak to God in the midst of it. Complaint comes naturally to us all, but biblical lament is a language to be learned in the context of fellowship. In this session, we'll examine the...
Trust And Relationships
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! The Bible can be somewhat confusing on the issue of trusting people. Some verses tell us not to trust in human relationships and others tell us to trust human relationships. This workshop will harmonize these...
Relationships for Eternity
We all want to have healthier, stronger, and closer relationships. But why are healthy relationships important? Relationships aren’t just a perk to life on earth, they are a fundamental aspect of our identity as those created in the image of a triune God. What’s more,...
Marriage, Resilience, and the Captivity of Closure
Life delivers complexity. Growing older together leaves many situations open-ended. People sin against us and we sin against each other. Things don’t resolve. We crave closure, sometimes to point of distraction—even idolatry. Healthy marriages understand that closure,...
Contentment in Relationships
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! We will examine Philippians 4:10-14 and discover Paul’s journey to developing contentment. We will trace his process and learn how to cultivate his process into an avenue of developing contentment in our...
The Art of Listening: How Listening Skills can Nurture Relationships for Eternal Purposes
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! The art of listening is a timeless and invaluable skill that plays a pivotal role in nurturing relationships for eternal purposes. Drawing on biblical references, we learn that listening is not merely a...
Thriving in Community
The Church is the family of God. Like all families, it has all kings of people– mature and immature, just starting the race of faith and nearing the finish line, those called to lead and others called to follow. God’s Word enables us to thrive in the midst of diverse...
Silence: How to Counsel Best When it Hurts the Most
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! One of the lessons we find in Job is the importance of silence and presence to those we care for. In an overly communicative society, we can often be tempted to speak when we really have nothing to say. Joel...
How Ecclesiastes can Recalibrate Our Lives
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! Ecclesiastes usually receives a bad rap as a negative book about the meaninglessness of life. On the contrary, Ecclesiastes is about joy in this fleeting life. The perspective in Ecclesiastes can transform our...
The Four Levels of Relationships
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! In Proverbs 27:5-6 we have a description of 4 levels of relating: Open and Unloving, Closed and Loving, Open and Loving, and Closed and Unloving. This workshop demonstrates how we operate at these levels and...
Counseling Church Hurt
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! In times of trouble, your church should be eager to weep with you (Rom 12:15), bear your burdens (Gal 6:2), and patiently walk with you toward Christ (1Thess 5:14). But where do you turn for help when the...
Asking Questions: How Asking the Right Questions can Nurture Relationships for Eternal Purposes
Looking for the notes to this session? Download them here! The art of asking questions involves framing inquiries that promote curiosity, encourage thoughtful responses, and foster meaningful connections with others. In this workshop, we will explore the power of...
Using Counseling Allies
Bearing each other’s burdens will always be done best when we share the load and counsel in community. A counseling ally is a spiritual friend or mentor in someone's life who accompanies the counselee to counseling. This workshop will explain the value of using allies...
Meditation isn’t Missing; it is Misdirected
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From Godly to Ungodly Concern: How to Counsel the Anxious Heart
The Counselor Cultivates; God Opens the Heart
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Plenary 6: The Spirit-Empowered Work in Gospel Transformation
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Plenary 3: The Power of the Gospel for Transformation
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Applying the Compassionate Heart of God in Counseling
Counsel from Habakkuk: God’s Answers to Life’s Most Difficult Questions
The Use of Common Grace Knowledge in Counseling
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Grace Race and the Church
The Spiritual Impact of a Critical Spirit in Relationships
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Be Transformed
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A Transformation Mindset
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The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Counseling
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The Necessity of Individualized Counseling
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Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare – Part Two
Do we get our view of spiritual warfare from the Devil or from the Scriptures themselves? In this session, David Powlison continues his review of three key questions: How does the holy Creator and Sustainer of the universe relate to evil creatures? How does the...
Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare – Part One
Spiritual warfare does not need to cause anxiety. Instead it is a doctrine of comfort. The devil is a creature like humans, who is dependent upon the living God for his very existence. So how does the holy Creator and Sustainer of the universe relate to evil...
Biblical Decision Making
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Counseling as a Couple
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Restoring Counseling to the Church
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I am not my Ethnicity
How does ethnicity and culture play into our identity? Download MP3 Audio | Download...
I am Successful
In a high-tempo, status-seeking, achievement-driven, celebrity-worshiping world how are...
As a Good Soldier of Christ
” This workshop considers how to balance past military experience and identity in Christ....
How Christ Transforms us in our Diseases and Disabilities
” Life in a fallen world involves many forms of suffering, including medical diseases,...
You are Your Calling
” This workshop explores the concept that all believers have a calling fromGod and that...
Be Not Wise in your Own Eyes
” The sin of “being wise in one’s own eyes” is easy to see in others, yet difficult to...
I am Dating the Wrong Guy
” How do you know who is the right guy and who is the wrong guy? Join us as we think...
Keep Yourselves From Idols
” This workshop will teach you how to identify the idols that are hidden in your heart...
I am Called to Ministry
” Has your call to ministry become idolatrous? Has ministry become your chief identity?...
Defined by my Sexuality
” In this workshop, we will seek out the biblical response to those that define...
You are Your Gender
” This workshop explores the Biblical basis for gender and how that impacts identity....
I am a Porn Struggler
” How do we help a single man struggling with pornography? Join us as we think about...
Addiction, Identity, and the Gospel
” How does identity in Christ transform a person struggling with addictions? This worship...
I am a Ministry Wife
” Women married to men in ministry face physical and spiritual challenges. These...
I am a Grandparent
” This session considers how a Christian is uniquely called to live out Grandparenthood....
I am Worthless: Overcoming Self-Hate
” Self-hate is a subterranean problem, usually buried deep under layers of relational...
Finding my Identity as a Biblical Counselor
” How should I think and feel about myself if my counselees reject what I have been...
The Beginning of Knowledge
” This workshop reviews how to help counselee’s find their identity in Christ rather...
You are a Prophet, Priest, and King
” This workshop explores one of the key concepts of the Protestant Reformation that is...
Helping Abuse Survivors Find Identity in Christ
” Issues of identity are some of the most difficult and painful questions facing...
PTSD: Moving Past Trauma
” This workshop will help those who have been diagnosed with PTSD and those who counsel...
I am my Ministry: Perspectives on Life and Calling
” For many of us in ministry, our ministry becomes our life. There is something beautiful...
I am not my Love Language
” This workshop will explore the idea of “Love Languages” and how they should be...
Counseling Systems and the Labels that Become Identity
” Where do psychological labels come from and how is a treatment plan developed? How...
I am Not the Opinions of Others
” From Bible times until now we see examples of those who live to keep others happy. Some...
Fit for Duty
” ” This workshop considers the supremacy of finding one’s identity in Christ rather...
Q/A When People Reject our Counsel
When counseling, responses can vary widely. What do we do when people don’t take our counsel? Craig and Jim sit down to discuss a listener question about this personal aspect of the counseling process.
The History Of The Biblical Counseling Movement
Why bother with the history of the biblical counseling movement? Because the battle over the Bible still rages. This session shows how an understanding of history will help preserve and protect the biblical counseling movement from error.
Legal Challenges and Changes: What You Need to Know
The U.S. Supreme Court’s attempt to redefine the institute of marriage has intensified the cultural chaos. This workshop will help pastors and biblical counselors understand the rapidly changing legal landscape so they can effectively minister God’s truth to a broken world.
Counseling And The Courts
You, your counseling center and your counselees will face tribulation. As cultural animosity towards Christians increases this could come in the form of legal issues. This workshop gives an overview of legal considerations pertinent to biblical counselors and counseling centers.
Gluttony Diet Fitness And Body Idolatry
Food and fitness idolatry are big issues in our culture. How can those stuck in sinful patterns change? This session discusses the unique change that is sought by Christians as they make it their aim not to please or impress people but to glorify God in their body.
Help for Hoarders
The light of God’s face must illuminate the darkness of the hoarding heart and house. This session will teach you how to address the reality of hoarding and its problems with confidence in God, His word and His body.
A Breath Of Fresh Air for Chokers
This session discusses the issue of “scarfing” or erotic asphyxiation. Dr. George Scipione looks at the Scriptures to define and diagnose this issue and then develop direction in overcoming it.
What If You Don’t Want Peace? The Many Realms Of Desire
Desire, which the Scripture also calls lust and covetousness, is an enemy of contentment and peace. This session will give you tools for identifying and dismantling the objects of your desire that run contrary to peace.
Making Peace in Times of Chaos: Critical Incident Stress Management
A traumatic crisis is overwhelming, life-dominating and life-changing. This session will define critical incident stress and its phases, discuss its relation to PTSD and help you to apply the Scriptures to those struggling with stress from a traumatic event.
How to Comfort the Dying
The living know they must die, but why must they die? What do people facing death fear? This session takes a comprehensive look at what the Scriptures have to say about death and discusses how to offer comfort to those for whom death is imminent.
Legal Issues in Counseling
The First Amendment provides important protection to biblical counselors who live in a culture where lawsuits are legion. This workshop covers general legal principles for those who are seeking to honor God by faithfully counseling from the Scriptures.
Counseling Those Who Have Lost a Spouse or Child
The loss of a spouse or a child is one of the most difficult trials to face in this life. This session discusses the three seasons commonly experienced by someone in the wake of this kind of crisis and how to help build hope, build perspective and bring comfort.
Counseling Manipulators
What is manipulation and how can we help those who manipulate others? This session will teach you how to help manipulators identify their sinful patterns, evaluate their thoughts and motives biblically and begin to develop the mindset of a servant.
Counseling People Pleasers
Some people are addicted to the approval of others. This session will give criteria to help diagnose the spiritual disorder of man pleasing and teach you how to help counselees dethrone the idol of approval.
Helping People through Romantic Breakups
The intense emotions following a romantic breakup can bring temptation to sin. This workshop discusses many of the common emotions provoked by the ending of a relationship and seeks to identify the heart issues and sinful patterns associated with them.
Ask the Counselor
Do you have unanswered questions about tough issues in counseling? In this workshop ACBC fellow George Scipione holds a Q&A for any questions people may have related to biblical counseling.
Evangelism and Counseling
Crisis can be an opportunity for evangelism and discipleship. But how do we get from the presenting problem to the gospel? This session seeks to help biblical counselors work towards lasting change in their counselees by applying the whole gospel to the whole man.
Counseling in Situations of Separation Divorce and Remarriage
God’s design is for marriage to be a lifelong covenant of companionship between one man and one woman but many marriages fall short of this ideal. This session seeks to offer wisdom to counselors working tough questions about separation, divorce and remarriage.
Singleness, Dating, and Courtship
What is the best approach to finding a marriage partner? What is the nature and purpose of courtship? What if I am single and lonely? This session answers many questions for those who are considering marriage or want to know how to prepare for marriage in the future.
SI15 Speaker Panel Discussion
This is a Q&A Roundtable with our Keynote Speakers from the 2015 Summer Institute: Heath Lambert, Jim Newheiser, Voddie Baucham and Brian Borgman.
SI14 Speaker Panel Discussion
This is a roundtable discussion on various topics by our keynote speakers from Summer Institute 2014.