Counselling Psychology

Blend Your Faith With Professional Counselling Standards and Practices

One of the most popular study areas at Providence, the Counselling Psychology degree program will prepare you for work as a Christian counsellor by building your knowledge of the discipline and honing your therapeutic skills. A major draw of this Master’s Degree is that considerable coursework can be completed via Distance Education, with remaining classes available in-person on our Otterburne main campus. The Distance Education element consists of a blend of online study, directed study and modular coursework.

Information Sessions

We welcome you to join us on one of our information sessions to hear more about the application/admission process. You can find upcoming sessions here (under Seminary Sessions)

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester start – Apply no later than April 15th.
  • Winter Semester start – Apply no later than September 15th.

I really appreciated the relationships we were able to foster with our professors. Providence offers smaller classroom settings and that allowed for more one-on-one time with faculty. I think that has aided in my learning and shaped who I am as a person.

Esther Schmidt

2016 Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology

Major Options
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology Counselling Psychology Major 90 credit hours
Program Details

Professional Designations

Graduates from the MA Counselling and MA Counselling Psychology program have been able to apply for membership with the following associations:

  • BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
  • Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
  • Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)
  • College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
  • Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapists (PACCP)
  • The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta

Note – the above associations may change policies and requirements for membership. Although our previous graduates have been able to register with these associations, there is no guarantee that that would be the case. It is the responsibility of the student to conduct research on these associations to ensure that the educational requirements align with our program.

For Entrance into the MA in Counselling Psychology program

Enrollment in this program is restricted to a limited number of students per year. It is strongly recommended that potential students have a solid background in the social sciences, psychology and Bible/theology. Fitness for counselling ministry and practice requires a high level of psychological health, including self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-knowledge, self-confidence, courage, resilience, purpose in life, balance, moderation, and emotional stability. Applicants are required to complete a standardized questionnaire (EQi 2.0), the results of which will be used by the Counselling Department to gauge suitability for the counselling profession. Some applicants may also be required to complete an interview with a member of the department as part of the application process. Applicants whose questionnaire or interview results indicate hindrances to the counselling profession may be denied entrance to the Seminary. Entrance into this program is also conditional on the completion of the “Foundations of Counselling” course.

International students with English as a second language are required to provide an official iBT TOEFL score with the following minimum iBT scores: Reading Skills: 20; Listening Skills: 22; Speaking Skills: 26; and Writing Skills: 24. At the discretion of the Counselling Department, other students may also be required to take this test.

Students who do not achieve an AGPA of 3.00 in their first semester may be required to complete additional course work in the area of their weakness.

Thesis or Non-Thesis Track

In addition to the entrance requirements for the MA Counselling Psychology degree, students wishing to take the Thesis Track must take CP6401 Research Design and Methodology. Following successful completion of CP6401, students will be eligible to apply for the Thesis Track. Applications for the Thesis Track should be made directly to the Counselling Department Chair.

To be accepted into the Thesis Track, students must have:
Maintained an AGPA of at least 3.0 across their courses, with no course grade lower than B-.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please look to the Academic Calendar for full information and course lists. If there are discrepancies between the information listed here and in the Academic Calendar, the Academic Calendar is definitive.

 

Program Courses

You will be enrolling in courses from the Department of Counselling and the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies.

Counselling courses:

  • Counselling Theory Practicum I and II
  • Marriage and Family Counselling
  • Family Systems
  • Ethical and Legal Issues for Counsellors
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Crisis and Trauma Counselling
  • Counselling Across Cultures
  • Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • Psychopathology
  • Group Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice
  • Congregational Care and Counselling
  • Psychological Assessment
  • Psychology of Emotion
  • Research Design and Methodology
  • Counselling Theory Practicum III and IV
  • Human Development
  • Counselling elective

Biblical and Theological Studies courses:

  • Reading the Church’s Bible
  • Integration of Theology and Psychology
  • Theology and Practice of Christian Spirituality and Formation
  • Theological Foundations
  • Old Testament elective
  • New Testament elective
  • Theology elective
Faculty

Angelle Arinobu, M.A. D.Min. ABD
Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology

Stephan Bonfield, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Michelle Gritter, M.Div. M.A. Psy.D. ABD
Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology

Janice Priess, M.A. (Department Chair)
Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology

Laura Vander Velden, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology

Samuel Williams Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology

Career Options
Graduates build careers with child & family services, addictions foundations, private practices across Canada, pregnancy crisis care centers, and not-for-profit agencies and NGOs world-wide. Others pursue doctoral studies.