This two-day course introduces a distinctly Christian framework for understanding the nature of persons, the roots of psychopathology, and the process of healing and formation. Drawing from Foundations for Soul Care, participants will explore the four dimensions of human beings, the integration of Christian inwardness and self-examination, and how therapy models differ from therapeutic modalities. This course lays essential groundwork for practicing Christ-Centered Therapy with theological depth and psychological clarity.
Human Nature Course (Live & Online)
Human Nature and Christian Healing and Formation: A Framework for CCT
Reserve Your Spot Today!
COURSE INFORMATION
Dates: October 10-11, 2025 • Time: Friday Afternoon 1-5pm and Saturday 8am-5pm EST
Course Cost: $300
Early Bird Discount – 20% off if you register before September 15th!
Fellow Discount – 20% off • Current Student Discount – 50% off
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Differentiate dimensions of human beings that relate to therapy and prioritize therapeutic interventions accordingly
- Trace the historical development of Christian contributions to depth psychology and psychotherapy
- Distinguish the kinds of therapy interventions that promote lesser and greater qualitative change
- Recognize how therapy modalities provide the building blocks of therapy models and begin to construct a Christian model of therapy based on the modalities that Christianity favors.
Reading List:
- Johnson, E. L. (2007). Foundations for soul care: A Christian psychology proposal. InterVarsity.
Course Schedule
Session 1 – Biblical Christianity and the Therapeutic Enterprise
Like other religions, the Christian faith addresses some of the issues that today are treated in therapy, including a sense of meaning and purpose; belonging; and negative emotions, like shame and guilt. However, God is recognized as the ultimate source of psychological healing.
Session 2 – Four Dimensions of Human Beings: Embodied, Psychosocial, Ethical, & Spiritual
In contrast to the worldview of materialism, the Christian worldview leads to a multi-dimensional, hierarchical view of human beings that better accounts for the complexity of human beings than the worldview of materialism.
Session 3 – Christian Psychopathology and the Four Dimensions
The four dimensional model discussed in Session 2 provides a Christian framework for understanding psychopathology and differential treatments corresponding to each dimension.
Session 4 – The Origins of Christian Inwardness & Self-Examination
The basis and evolving history of Christianity’s understanding of the self and inwardness are explored, with an emphasis on the role of self-examination in Christian therapy.
Session 5 – Christian Inwardness, Internalization, & Manifestation
The healing journey of Christian therapy requires the internalization of cognitive, emotional, and relational processes that contribute to the “manifestation” of increasingly whole persons, the telos of the Christian life..
Session 6 – Therapy Models vs. Modalities
The differences between therapy modalities and therapy models will be presented to help participants deconstruct contemporary models of therapy and construct their own model of therapy based on their favored modalities, in light of a Christian worldview.