Earn Your Certificate in Biblical Counseling
People are struggling—and you want to help. You just need the right tools to feel confident.
In a world chasing peace in all the wrong places, you believe the Bible offers something better: real hope and healing. With the right training, you can become someone others trust for wisdom, truth, and direction.
The Biblical Counseling Certificate Program from Light University gives you a clear path. You’ll build a solid foundation in God’s Word and learn how to walk with others through life’s hardest moments.
You were made to make a difference. Start your journey today.
Biblical Counseling & Psychology
Certification
Caring for People God’s Way 101 & 201
30 CE Credits • IBCC Certification
total cost is $634.00 with fees
Biblical Counseling & Psychology Certification includes:
Digital Text Book
Certificate of completion
30 CEU Credits
Industry Leading Instruction
30 Course Modules
Course Lessons and Descriptions
Caring for People God’s Way 101
Course Lessons
BCOU 101: Becoming a Christian Counselor
Tim Clinton, Ed.D.
BCOU 102: Helping Others Find Significance in Life
Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.
BCOU 103: The Power of Truth
Leslie Vernick, M.S.W
BCOU 104: The Effective People Helper
Ian Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D.
BCOU 105: Bringing People into God’s Presence
Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.
BCOU 106: Pain and Suffering: Helping People in a Broken World
Gary Oliver, Th.M., Ph.D.
BCOU 107: Foundations of Trauma-informed Care
Shannae Anderson, Ph.D.
BCOU 108: Managing Stress and Anxiety
Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.
BCOU 109: Overcoming Depression
Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D.
BCOU 110: Forgiveness: Letting Go of the Past and Pain
Everett Worthington, Jr., Ph.D.
BCOU 111: The Spiritual Disciplines in Counseling
Siang-Yang Tan, Ph.D.
BCOU 112: The Helping Process: Basic Skills and Practice
Ken Nichols, Psy.D.
BCOU 113: How to Help People Change
Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.
BCOU 114: Anger Management
Zach Clinton, M.A.
BCOU 115: Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Ministry
Mercy Connors, Ph.D.
Continuing Education
Target Audience: Biblical and Pastoral Counselors, and Church-based Care
15.00 Continuing Education (CE) Credits available for IBCC Credential Holders.
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is an Approved Continuing Education (CE) provider by the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC). The AACC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Note: This course does not meet CE requirements for licensed mental health professionals
Caring for People God's Way 201
Course Lessons
BCOU 201: Using Your Spiritual Gifts in Counseling
Ian Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D.
BCOU 202: Crisis Response and Intervention
Jennifer Cisney Ellers, M.A.
BCOU 203: Grief and Loss
Jennifer Cisney Ellers, M.A. and Kevin Ellers, D.Min.
BCOU 204: Addiction and Recovery
John Eklund, M.S.W.
BCOU 205: Marriage: Keeping Love Alive
Sharon May, Ph.D.
BCOU 206: Healthy Sexuality: A Biblical Foundation
John Thomas, Ph.D.
BCOU 207: Breaking the Bonds of Sexual Addiction
Jim Cress, M.A.
BCOU 208: How Couples Lose at Love: Disaffection in Marriage
Sharon May, Ph.D.
BCOU 209: Hope-focused Marriage Counseling
Everett Worthington, Jr., Ph.D.
BCOU 210: Infidelity: Stabilizing After the Affair
David Carder, M.A.
BCOU 211: Divorce Recovery: Starting Over Again
Kevin Ellers, D.Min.
BCOU 212: Self-Care: External Success Requires Internal Health
Johnny Parker, DSL
BCOU 213: Breaking Generational Patterns
Mark Mayfield, Ph.D.
BCOU 214: Psychiatric Care and Medication
Karl Benzio, M.D.
BCOU 215: Thriving in Love and Money
Shaunti Feldhahn, MPP
Continuing Education
Target Audience: Biblical and Pastoral Counselors, and Church-based Care
15.00 Continuing Education (CE) Credits available for IBCC Credential Holders.
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is an Approved Continuing Education (CE) provider by the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC). The AACC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Note: This course does not meet CE requirements for licensed mental health professionals
Biblical Counseling & Psychology Certification
Get enrolled
get certified
change the world
Industry Leading Faculty
Leslia Vernick, M.A.
Shannae Anderson, Ph.D.
Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D.
Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.
Mercy Connors, Ph.D.
Karl Benzio, M.D.
Mark Mayfield, Ph.D.
Johnny Parker, DSL
Shaunti Feldhahn, MPP
Sharon May, Ph.D.
Advanced Biblical Counseling & Psychology Specialization Programs.
Biblical Counseling & Psychology Certification with Specialized Training
The 2022 Global Consumer Awareness Study revealed that 85% of clients searching for a coach say it’s important or very important that they coach hold a certification or credential. Earning an advanced IBCC Credential provides you with instant credibility and increased visibility to prospective clients. Holding a credential – especially an IBCC Credential – is extremely important to today’s coaching clients.
Light University’s online Biblical Counseling and Psychology certificate, diploma, and master diploma programs offer an addiction and recovery specialization that can help equip you with a working knowledge of addictions and how to help people escape them for good. This specialization covers the different types of addiction, a biblical theology of addiction and recovery, the addictive cycle, how trauma informs addictions, and much more.
Our online Biblical counseling certificate specializes in marriage and family counseling, which can prepare you to walk alongside families dealing with difficult life circumstances. Topics covered in the marriage and family course of study include suicide, child discipline, love and relationships, and a biblical framework for healthy sexuality.
Our biblical counseling certificate crisis and trauma specialization is an excellent option to gain specialized expertise in first responder mental health training. This program of study covers suicide, anxiety, depression, crisis response to various devastating events, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acts of violence against the church, and much more.
Light University’s online Biblical Counseling and Psychology certificate, diploma, and master diploma programs offer a grief and loss counseling specialization that covers topics such as how and why suicide occurs, mental illness, the digital world’s influence on suicide rates, and how to care for yourself and other caregivers when a client takes their own life. You’ll also explore how to help people deal with the death of a child, the connection between grief and trauma, understanding God’s heart for children, and much more!
How Do Light University’s Online Biblical Counseling Programs Work?
Customize your certificate program with the training you need to suit your life coaching profession.
Biblical Counseling Certificate
Light University’s online Certificate in Biblical Counseling features two courses – Caring for People God’s Way 101 and 201 that cover various topics pertinent to Biblical Counseling. You’ll study how to help people overcome depression, manage the trauma that comes with sexual abuse, recover from addiction, and much more!
Biblical Counseling Diploma
Light University’s online biblical counseling diploma program allows you to select two free elective modules in addition to every topic covered in the biblical counseling certificate program. Possible study topics include extraordinary women, how to care for children in a Godly way, healthy sexuality, marriage works, and Christ-informed care for teens.
Biblical Counseling Master Diploma
Light University’s online biblical counseling and psychology master diploma is a 5-course program that allows you to select 3 free elective presentations. That way, you can gain valuable knowledge on the topics you’re most passionate about. In this program, you can study caring for kids God’s way, Godly care for teenagers, healthy sexuality, and marriage.
Frequently Asked Questions about Light University’s Biblical Counseling School
WHAT IS A BIBLICAL COUNSELOR?
A Biblical Counselor uses principles from God’s Word as the foundation for guidance, support, and personal growth. Biblical Counselors integrate spiritual truths from the Bible with counseling techniques to help individuals address emotional, relational, and mental health challenges. They aim to facilitate healing, transformation, and restoration in a person’s life by aligning their approach with Christian faith and values. Often, they operate within a church or paraprofessional ministry setting, providing support in a community or faith-based environment.
What is the Role of a Biblical Counselor?
The role of a Biblical Counselor is to provide spiritual guidance and support to individuals facing various personal, relational, or spiritual challenges. Grounded in Christian beliefs, Biblical Counselors help clients understand their struggles through the lens of Scripture, emphasizing the transformative power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Their primary goal is to guide people towards spiritual growth, healing, and lasting change by aligning their thoughts and behaviors with Biblical principles.
Biblical Counseling often operates within a church or paraprofessional ministry setting, focusing on spiritual development rather than clinical diagnosis or therapy. It complements rather than replaces traditional mental health counseling, especially for those seeking guidance grounded in Christian faith.
Why Become a Biblical Counselor?
Becoming a Biblical Counselor offers a unique opportunity to bring spiritual transformation and healing into people’s lives, helping them navigate challenges with faith-centered guidance.
Biblical Counselors are uniquely equipped to offer guidance based on Scripture, helping individuals align their lives with Biblical truths — a much-needed role within ministry settings.
Someone who is not trained as a Biblical Counselor may face the following challenges:
- Misunderstanding the spiritual roots of issues
- Neglecting the power of Scripture in the healing process
- Focusing solely on behavior modification rather than spiritual transformation
- Missing opportunities for repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual growth
What is the difference between Biblical Counseling and Therapy?
There is a clear distinction between the two. While both Biblical Counseling and therapy aim to help individuals find healing and growth, their foundations and approaches differ. Biblical Counselors use Scripture to address life struggles, focusing on spiritual growth, repentance, and alignment with Biblical principles. In contrast, therapists use evidence-based psychological methods, often providing diagnosis and clinical interventions.
While this course does not license an individual to do therapy, licensed therapists can benefit from integrating Biblical Counseling principles into their practice. It offers a deeper understanding of how spiritual growth and Scriptural insights can complement clinical techniques. By learning these methods, therapists can enhance their approach, addressing both the psychological and spiritual needs of clients who seek faith-based guidance.
Who is this course for?
There is a clear distinction between the two. While both Biblical Counseling and therapy aim to help individuals find healing and growth, their foundations and approaches differ. Biblical Counselors use Scripture to address life struggles, focusing on spiritual growth, repentance, and alignment with Biblical principles. In contrast, therapists use evidence-based psychological methods, often providing diagnosis and clinical interventions.
While this course does not license an individual to do therapy, licensed therapists can benefit from integrating Biblical Counseling principles into their practice. It offers a deeper understanding of how spiritual growth and Scriptural insights can complement clinical techniques. By learning these methods, therapists can enhance their approach, addressing both the psychological and spiritual needs of clients who seek faith-based guidance.
“Our mission at the AACC with this new curriculum is to raise up an army of people of God — an army willing to step into the lives of people who are desperately seeking help, hope, and encouragement. This updated curriculum features the latest in counseling methods, covering critical topics like depression, anxiety, and relationships, all grounded in God’s Word. I can’t wait to see how God works in and through you as you advance His kingdom and bring healing.“
