Biblical Seminary is co-sponsor of a Marriage and Family conference in Harrisburg, PA run by Shepherd Press Authors. The conference runs October 1-2, 2010. You can find out more information here. I tell you about our sponsorship because those of you associated with Biblical Seminary (friend, alum, student, etc.) are eligible for a discount. Using their website, http://www.SPA2010.com, enter BIBLICAL as a code to receive the discounted registration.
Maybe we’ll see you there.
Filed under biblical counseling, Biblical Seminary, Christianity, counseling, Ed Welch, marriage
My weekend course on Counseling individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder begins this Friday night (6 pm) at Biblical Seminary. Class meets 3 hours on Friday and then from 9 to 5 on Saturday. It is not too late to sign up for CEs. If you are LPC and in need of a bunch of continuing education, these will count towards your requirements.
Check out this page for more information on CEs at Biblical and how to register.
My school, Biblical Seminary, has a variety of summer classes, from on-site intensives to weekend only to totally on-line. Click the link if you are trying to figure out what enrichment you will pursue this summer. The page that pops up will list both classes and free events. Those of you looking for counseling CEUs may be able to get credit too!
Okay, so really there are a number of important counselor qualities and skills. You have to be able to be quiet and listen, to have good questions, and comments, to be able to follow a line of thinking, to have some idea of a goal, etc. But, maybe the most important quality is the ability to be self-reflective. Reflexive responses may be useful (these come from the gut) but they can be dangerous in that we have little thought and review of these kinds of responses.
At the retreat today I suggested that the unexamined life may create more opportunity for damage in counseling than the lack of knowledge of how to help a person. We may assume that our “truth-telling” capacity is good when it is really merely harsh. We may assume our “listening” skills are good when really, we are hiding from dealing with the big pink elephant in the room. We may think our advice and information is very important when really it merely exists to show off what we know.
We looked at Galatians 6:1f where we are called to help others by restoring gently, carrying burdens, and watching our own lives closely. (I got this from Paul Tripp some years ago). This passage shows where we may fail to care well for others.
Of course, there is also the danger of the over-examined life. Such a life leads to rumination, anxious second-guessing, and paralysis by analysis.
Retreat is going well, but wet and cold…
Filed under Biblical Seminary, christian counseling, counseling
My latest edition of the APA Monitor on Psychology has a little stat from www.gradeinflation.com that might interest you. Check out the extensive information at this site. Among other things are the findings that grade inflation began to be evident in the 1960s but really took of in the 1980s and hasn’t stopped.
In the 1930s, the average GPA at American colleges and universities was about 2.35, a number that corresponds with data compiled by W. Perry in 1943. By the 1950s, the average GPA was about 2.52. GPAs took off in the 1960s with grades at private schools rising faster than public schools, lulled in the 1970s, and began to rise again in the 1980s at a rate of about 0.10 to 0.15 increase in GPA per decade. The grade inflation that began in the 1980s has yet to end.
Further, private (and more expensive) schools seem to have much higher inflation in grades that in public schools. The author suggests that the reason is likely the result of the consumer mentality of education these days–you pay a lot for a degree, you want the reward of a good grade.
The author believes that the resurgence of grade inflation in the 1980s principally was caused by the emergence of a consumer-based culture in higher education. Students are paying more for a product every year, and increasingly they want and get the reward of a good grade for their purchase. In this culture, professors are not only compelled to grade easier, but also to water down course content. Both intellectual rigor and grading standards have weakened. The evidence for this is not merely anecdotal. Students are highly disengaged from learning, are studying less than ever, and are less literate. Yet grades continue to rise. (emphasis mine)
According to the author, schools with lax selection standards and community colleges (who probably accept most everyone with a high school diploma or GED) seem to have a much lower grade inflation rate. Why? There isn’t pressure on the profs to give great grades.
Other factors involved?
1. Not denying the author’s findings but we should remember that prestigious schools (with larger rejection rates) do not have a normal distributions of students. Most are high quality. It becomes harder and harder to determine the quality of the very very good from the really good. When there is confusion there will always be pressure to get as much as you can for your work as a student.
2. The philosophy of “everyone wins” is pervasive. Every kid gets a medal for trying at their sport. Every college kid gets an A for trying. I can’t deny that this idea exists.
3. Frankly, education is something to be consumed these days. “What can I do with this” is a much more frequent question than it was when I was in grad school in the 1980s. I don’t see as many students just in it for the love of learning. Is that because of the inflation of costs? Consumption driven education (i.e., my program) is concerned about the outcome rather than building the best creative and critical thinkers. If you value outcome over thinking, you have less to separate the genius students from the competent students. Therefore competency is rewarded and grades inflate because more are able to meet the standard of “competent.”
Grade inflation at Biblical?
Absolutely. But not equally across domains. I suspect we counselors give higher grades than do theology profs. Is it because we are soft and want everyone to be happy and like us? No. We have different philosophies. Like number 3 above, theology tends to focus on critical thinking and abstract ideas. As a result, there will be more diversity of grades with the best students getting the highest grades. However, in counseling classes we focus on skills(not to say we don’t want to build and support critical thinking). We tell the students the skills we want to see and if they can exhibit those skills, they get the good grade. In many ways, we have a Pass/Fail approach to grading (or in some of our courses, does not meet expectations, meets, exceeds) with the understanding that most will meet expectations if we have been really clear about our skills focus. The grade signifies they have the skill. Maybe our philosophy indicates that the grading system of A though F doesn’t really help determine who really is the most competent. For example, I can have students get As in their academic courses but not be interpersonally competent. When you choose a counselor, do you really want to pick on the basis of their GPA or on their ability to exhibit the skill of kindness, insight, and trustworthiness?
Every summer we have a summer counseling institute where we offer electives for current students, alum, and other interested parties (graduate counseling credit counts for required CEUs!). This summer we have three fabulous offerings!
1. **ON-LINE** Models of Counseling(2 credits) by Dr. Bryan Maier. From 7/6 to 8/31. This class has NO on-site time. If you have ever wanted to study the historic models of counseling from a Christian perspective this class is for you. Bryan really understands the basics of these models, offers great insights and careful thinking. Plus, Bryan’s material includes narrated PowerPoints and short videos made to stimulate your thinking.
2. Theology of Suffering & Disability(2 credits) by Jerry Borton and Kevin Kain. Class meets two weekends (7/10-11, 7/24-25). Jerry works for Joni & Friends and both Jerry and Kevin have intimate understanding of Cerebral Palsy. This is not, per se, a counseling course but open to all who want to think biblically about suffering and disability and apply that to their counseling or ministry practices.
3. Counseling Victims in the Criminal Justice System(1 credit) by Jenn Zuck. Class meets one weekend (August 7-8). Jenn has tremendous experiences working with victims of abuse and crimes in the justice system. Sadly, the church has not supported these individuals as it could have (I have heard several Christian prosecutors tell me that they have yet to see a pastor come in support of the victim, but many times observed the pastor supporting the alleged perpetrator). If you don’t live in the area, consider a visit. Class meets Friday night and Saturday. Philadelphia is a great town to visit!
On July 1 this blog celebrates its third anniversary! Over the years We’ve talked about lots of topics that concern folk—everything from abuse to pornography addiction to forgiveness. I’ve enjoyed the chance to share my thoughts with you and you have been kind enough to respond.
For those of you who blog, you realize that it requires time and effort–more effort than I realized when I first started this! One of the blessings I’ve received is the encouragement to continue blogging by Biblical Seminary, where I am a faculty member and the director of the MA in counseling program. They give me the space to write what I think, without interference. For that I am thankful. I would like to return the favor and do something I’ve never done before—ask my readers to consider making a financial donation to the seminary. Many seminaries are tightly pressed during this recession and Biblical is no exception. There is no pressure—if you can help simply follow the link below. Thanks for considering a gift that supports what I do.
https://secure.mediafusiontech.com/biblical.edu/onlinegiving/index.asp
Folks, many of us faculty dreamed about being teachers. But, I guarantee that few of us dreamed of attending faculty meetings. So, when we found out today that our dean cancelled the meeting today, I suspect there was a private “woo-hoo” in every office–after making sure it wasn’t an April fools joke. If you are not a faculty member let me tell you a bit about this thing called faculty meetings. What I say is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but make no mistake, these are actual beliefs that we hold.
1. Every one of us believes that these meetings should determine the direction and activity of the school. We are the esteemed thinkers; purveyors of truth and therefore should be listened to when we deliberate on best practices of teaching, educational content, assessment of students, and setting the overall direction of the school. Never mind that almost no professor has any training in pedagogy other than watching their own teachers. We are specialists in our field but want to shape the entire school.
2. Faculty meetings are where we discuss these matters. There are faculty ranks (full profs, associates, assistants, lecturers; chairpersons; deans, etc) but in the meeting, every faculty member has an opinion and feels free to share his or her nuances regarding the comments made already.
3. Because of the democratic nature of faculty meetings, our personalities really shine. Those of the “just do it” mentality tend to want to move on quickly. Those of the more conservative personality are much more inclined to check and recheck for possible unconsidered danger in a particular venture.
4. As a result, faculty meetings are a bit like a meeting of Ents. It takes a long time just to say hello. You want to decide something? Well, that will take two or three hours.
In fact, Biblical Seminary faculty meetings aren’t as horrible as I am depicting. We do discuss very important matters. We do pray and frequently do work in the Word together. Furthermore, listening to each other and discerning the will of God does take time. Hurried decisions almost always problematic later on.
The challenge I have is knowing when to say when. I tend to be a contributor to the conversations. I think I have something of merit to say that hasn’t been said yet. I need to ask myself: Are my comments necessary? Will I later wish I had made my voice heard? Did I speak in a way that honors Christ? Did I listen well before jumping in? When commenting, do my colleagues recognize my characterizations of their positions? When I listen to the report of a committee do I first seek to learn from them or to question the basis of their work and thinking as if I could have done a better job.
The work of faculty at a seminary is invigorating. Faculty meetings are less so, but still important. Thanks Todd for cancelling ours today so that we can do some other things.
Filed under group dynamics
Folks, last reminder for those of you in the Philadelphia area. On March 20, 2009 we will be hosting a pastoral health conference at the seminary from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The conference is entitled:
Hazardous to Your Health: Pastoring Through Church Challenges
We have a great range of speakers on a variety of church challenges topics. You can hear Diane Langberg talk about leadership; Rev. Rick Tyson talking about ministry depression; two pastor’s wives talking about the unique challenges they face; An attorney address legal challenges; John Freeman address sexual brokenness in the church, and much much more. I will be concluding the conference with the final plenary devoted to describing a simple revolution in the area pastoral renewal. Rev. Philip G. Ryken will participate with me to describe some ways he is meeting the challenge of ongoing spiritual care.
Please torture your ministry friends and acquaintances to come. It will be a refreshing and useful time for them. Especially invite spouses of ministry leaders. They almost never get any kind of opportunity to be blessed and encouraged.
Here’s the link to purchase a ticket for attendees (check out the lower rate for students and guests of ministry leaders!). Registration includes lunch and comedic entertainment:
http://www.biblical.edu/pages/connect/hazardoustoyourhealth0309.htm
For those of you in the Philadelphia region and considering an Masters degree in Counseling you are hereby invited to our March 9th “taste of Biblical Seminary.” This open house is just for those interested in a counseling degree and will expose attendees to what we do at Biblical. You’ll come hear from profs and students, have a meal with us, have time to ask current students anything you want, and then sit in on our classes. You’ll leave with a very clear sense of what we are about.
For more information and an opportunity to have a meal with me, check out this pdf on our website: http://www.biblical.edu/images/embark/PDFs/infoeventmar09.pdf
Musings on Faith and Psychology 