Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary - established 1977

CHRISTIAN COUNSELING PROGRAM

Christian / Pastoral Counseling School

NCCA LogoHello and blessings to you.  Thank you for your interest in Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary and our Christian Counseling Programs, under direction of Rev. Carolyn “Bonnie” Aronson, Ph.D., B.C.M., M.P.C., D.C.P.C., for Undergraduates and Graduate Studies.

The State of Maryland requires that the following be stated: “Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary is a religious institution operating in the State of Maryland pursuant to an exemption granted by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, without a certificate of approval from the Commission, as specified in the Code of Maryland Regulations 13B.02.04”. State Licensing boards are not required to recognize the CBCS Christian Counseling program as a prerequisite of licensure.

Through the External Studies Program, the Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary School of Pastoral Christian Counseling and the National Christian Counselors Association, we have equipped many to fulfill God’s plan for his or her life. The education and training assists in meeting goals for…

  • Christians who want to be better equipped to minister to those who need counsel.
  • Pastors who want to learn how to counsel members of their church and community who are experiencing problems.
  • Christians who want to be credentialed and enter the field of counseling as a part-time or full-time ministry.
  • Professional counselors who want to become A.P.S. certified and learn a Biblically-based counseling model with proven success.

Is Christian Counseling Certification and Licensing for YOU?

We receive many calls from individuals who are seeking a sense of direction regarding Christian Counseling. Each individual must decide if he or she wants to be an agent of the state or a servant of the Church (Body of Christ). If you have a divine call on your life to counsel and minister to the hurting, then a state license may inhibit such ministry.

The National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) Licensing Program, available through Chesapeake Bible College’s Master of Pastoral Counseling Degree and/or the Doctor of Clinical Pastoral Counseling Degree, is NOT a state license and is, in fact, distinctly different. Most states have regulatory laws governing the practice of psychology. Many of them also legislate the practice of general counseling. The laws vary from state to state. For example, some states have a counselor category called “Licensed Professional Counselor”. Therefore, the NCCA requires its counselors to clearly identify their license, e.g., “NCCA Licensed Pastoral Counselor” or “NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor.” This ensures that the NCCA counselor is operating within legal and ethical standards, and maintains the public’s trust and confidence.

State regulatory laws help to protect the public and ensure professionalism within the counseling profession. The NCCA strives to attain a similar goal with the Christian community and, at the same time, operate so as to avoid infringing upon state regulations.

The state and federal governments also have jurisdictional boundaries. They cannot pass laws that prevent the Church from fulfilling its purpose and ministering to humanity’s needs. The state recognizes that counseling is one of the responsibilities of the Church and its clergy. For this reason, the state does not and must not interfere with the Ministry of Counseling

The major difference between state-licensed professional counselors and Pastoral or Christian counselors, who are licensed by the NCCA and under the authority of the Church (Body of Christ), is clear and well-defined. Counselors who have been licensed by the state are held to strict ethical standards which mandate an individual’s right to be free from religious influence. The state licensed professional counselor is forbidden to pray, read or refer to the Holy Scriptures, or counsel against things such as homosexuality, abortion, etc. Initiating such counsel would be considered unethical by the state. The only time a state licensed counselor can involve religious (Christian) principles, morals, activities, instruction, etc., is if the counselee initiates or requests counsel in these areas.

The state-licensed counselor may not have the education, experience and knowledge of Scripture that Chesapeake Bible College and the NCCA provides.

Opposite from that, Pastoral counselors are required to pray, share their faith, read from the Holy Scriptures, etc. The fact that Pastoral and Christian counselors do these things creates a clear distinction. We are two distinct professions and govern ourselves accordingly.

As you can readily see, the state governs secular counselors and the Church is responsible to set standards and govern ministers who have devoted their lives to the ministry and to Pastoral counseling.

None of this is to say that the Christian counselor, minister or priest is not permitted to request fees and receive remuneration for the services they render, as long as they remain adherent to the state laws governing such procedures.

The NCCA requires all who are certified or licensed by its Licensing Board of Examiners to:

  • Be credentialed ministers (ordained, licensed or commissioned) whose goal is to evangelize and ease the emotional pain and suffering of humanity.
  • Provide their service under the authority of a legally organized local church, a national church organization or a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit ministry.
  • Complete specialized training provided by Chesapeake Bible College and the NCCA.
  • Complete the minimum requirements for continuing education and annual license renewal.
  • Uphold Chesapeake Bible College’s and NCCA’s Code of Ethical Standards.

About the National Christian Counselors Association:

The National Christian Counselors Association is an educational and training organization for Christian counselors. The NCCA includes ministers, professional Christian counselors, testing specialists, medical doctors, attorneys and educators. It was established in 1981 by Doctor Richard and Doctor Phyllis Arno as a non-profit corporation in order to conduct research and develop a therapeutic procedure based on Scripture. The Arno Profile System was developed and is currently used by over 4,000 pastors and professional counselors to aid them in their counseling efforts. These counselors report an accuracy rate of over ninety percent (90%) in identifying an individual’s in-born God-given temperament. The NCCA’s main purpose is to provide quality training for pastors and Christians who feel God’s call to counsel. Their training results in credentials that the community (Christian and non-Christian) will recognize.

Advantages of the Arno Profile System

As a licensure candidate, you will learn the Arno Profile System (APS) for counseling. APS is an easy-to-learn counseling technique used by thousands of lay counselors, professional counselors and pastors throughout the United States and in nine foreign countries.

The Christian counselor administers a questionnaire, which takes fewer than ten minutes for the counselee to complete. The questionnaire measures the counselee’s needs, natural traits, strengths, and weaknesses according to their temperament. These are identified in the computerized Arno Profile System report, providing the counselor with in-depth information and the best way to counsel the individual. The system enables a qualified counselor to identify the counselee’s temperament problems faster and more accurately.

Excerpts from the National Christian Counselors Association “Licensing Program for Christian Counselors”.

DEGREES OFFERED

Bachelor of Christian Ministry Degree
with a Major in Biblical Counseling
(B.C.M.)

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Master of Pastoral Counseling Degree
(M.P.C.)

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Doctor of Clinical Pastoral Counseling Degree
(D.C.P.C.)

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Doctor of Philosophy Degree
(Ph.D.)

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The following institutions offer a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in cooperation with Chesapeake Bible College and the National Christian Counselors Association:

Central Christian University, Lexington, NC Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling

Colorado Theological Seminary, Wheat Ridge, CO Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling

Cornerstone University, Lake Charles, LA
Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling
Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Psychology

Family Bible Institute, College and Seminary, Baltimore, MD
Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling

Questions? Please contact me!
Phone: 1-302-846-2208
Email: cbaronson@yahoo.com

I’m happy to talk with you about Chesapeake Bible College’s External Studies School of Pastoral Christian Counseling Degree Programs. We will work together to further the Kingdom by offering hope to those who are hurting.

DEAN

Dean – Christian Pastoral Counseling External Studies School

Dr. Carolyn "Bonnie" AronsonBachelor of Christian Ministry (BCM); Master of Pastoral Counseling (MPC); Doctor of Clinical Pastoral Counseling (DCPC); Chesapeake Bible College and Seminary, Ridgely, MD. Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Christian Psychology (Ph.D.) with honors, Cornerstone University, Lake Charles, LA. National Christian Counselors Association International Representative: Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor, Advanced Certification; and Professional Clinical Member. National Board of Christian Clinical Therapists: Diplomat Member. Sarasota Academy of Christian Counselors: Certified Temperament Therapist. Faith Based Board Certification: Group Therapy; Domestic Violence & Family Therapy; Integrated Marriage & Family Therapy. Member: American Christian Counselors Association; the American Culinary Federation and Delmarva Chefs Association. Culinary Consultant and Educator. Dean of External Studies, Pastoral Christian Counseling Program, Chesapeake Bible College. Instructor: Delaware Technical College; War-Wic Community College. Adjunct Professor: Wilmington University