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Introduction to Lay Counselling within the Church Environment

The Introduction to Lay Counselling within the Church Environment course is designed to equip believers with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals who are facing emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Many people turn to the church during difficult seasons of life, and this course helps prepare lay counsellors to respond with wisdom, compassion, and confidence.


Rooted in biblical principles and informed by psychological insight, the course introduces key counselling concepts and practical tools that can be applied within a ministry context. Participants learn how to listen with empathy, create safe spaces for conversation, understand common emotional struggles, and offer supportive, Christ-centred guidance.


Through structured learning and practical application, this course lays a strong foundation for those who feel called to walk alongside others, helping churches become places where people can find understanding, healing, and hope.

  • 26 learners

    Enrolled

  • 2 hours

    Video duration

  • Own Pace

    Course duration

  • 4 E-book 

    Included

    A few more words about this course

    This course equips church members with foundational skills to provide compassionate, biblically grounded emotional and spiritual support. It introduces the difference between lay and professional counselling, clarifies the purpose of lay counselling within the church, and distinguishes lay counselling from friendship.

    Participants are trained in core counselling skills, including active listening, empathy, reflective responses, asking open-ended questions, and creating a safe and confidential space. These are reinforced with biblical examples, including Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman.

    The course integrates biblical principles into counselling, emphasising love, reconciliation, prayer, and discernment through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It explores the role of prayer in counselling and how to practice discernment to recognise spiritual and emotional needs.

    A strong emphasis is placed on ethics and boundaries, covering key counselling principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, fidelity, confidentiality, and competence—each illustrated through Jesus’ ministry.

    The course ends with guidance on recognising when to refer individuals for professional help (e.g., in cases of trauma, mental illness, or self-harm), while continuing to offer spiritual encouragement.

    Participants leave with clear expectations, practical tools, and a deepened understanding of how to serve others in a safe, respectful, and Spirit-led manner.

    You will learn:

    • Foundations of Lay Counselling
    • Counselling Techniques and Christian Wisdom
    • Handling Common Counselling Scenarios
    • Biblical Principles
    • Ethics and Boundaries in Counselling

    Marilize Howell

    Christian Pastoral Counsellor

    About

    Marilize Howell is a Christian Pastoral Counsellor, lecturer, and course developer with a passion for equipping believers to care for those who are hurting. With a background in psychology and extensive counselling experience, she integrates biblical wisdom with psychological insight to help individuals and churches support people facing emotional and relational challenges.


    Through her training programmes and online courses, Marilize equips lay counsellors with practical skills, psychological understanding, and biblical foundations so they can offer compassionate, ethical, and effective care within their ministry contexts. Her work is dedicated to helping the Church become a place where people can find understanding, healing, and hope.

    What our students say:

    "You have made me so excited to start my counselling journey. If I ever lecture I aspire to have the same vibe you carry"
    "Marilize, thank you for your bubbly and fun personality. You make  coming to class exciting every time!"
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