Discipleship
Is your life goal to be known as Jesus' disciple?
All clinical professionals receive weekly supervision while performing hundreds of hours in an internship, before thousands of hours of post-graduation clinical work, to earn a government license to practice. Even some biblical counselors are required by their seminaries to have a similar field experience—albeit hours numbering in the dozens and without the continuing education requirement to be granted a license. Still others (e.g., pastors) intern under someone more experienced in order to be formed in an even broader array of pastoral responsibilities—although mostly for public ministry.
If you belong to one of these segments, or just want to love others better, it doesn’t matter whether you are a licensed professional (e.g., psychologist, counselor, social worker), church clergy (pastor, elder, small group facilitator), parachurch/community leader, or other stakeholder (e.g., family, friend, co-worker, neighbor). Christ-conforming discipleship will help you apply the education that you have received and give you the chance to: (a) shape it to your context, and (b) expand upon it with your own God-given talents.
We offer the process of walking with the wise to become wise (Prov 13:20). How far and fast you walk, will depend on God’s plan and purposes for you. The key factor is that we have operated in the environment and have crafted lessons for you to benefit from. We can be your traveling guide/companion—walking with Jesus to become like Jesus (Luke 6:40).
* As with all ICCCED-T programs, 100% of revenue is dedicated to the benefit of the common good. This includes (a) supplementing donated funds that are directed to client sponsorships for economic hardships, as well as (b) investing in the non-profit’s ability to serve clients in ever-greater ways through volunteers and staff development funds.
Supervision
These are for those who have a specific requirement (e.g., professional, academic) of formal supervision for a specified time period. If you are a student or life-learner, having a supervisor will give you the objective feedback necessary for growth.
Consultations
These are for those who have specific situations that need practical, immediate guidance. If you are a counselor, then you can use this space to bounce ideas or generate better ones with a sounding board.
Mentorship
These are for those who seek general guidance. If you are interested in learning from a master with broader experience and deeper insight, then a mentorship will make you a well-rounded professional who can outperform most specialists.
Apprenticeship
These are for those who seek the highest level of attention and formation. Our offering includes being able to transition from receiving direct line by line review of observation sessions conducted by the helper, to shadowing a clinical supervisor in session, and finally being able to co-facilitate with a clinical supervisor.
Books Curated / Reviewed by ICCCED-T
We are honored to curate and review many books published by our partners (e.g., New Growth Press, Reformed Heritage Books, InterVarsity Press).
Whether you are on the certification journey or part of our book club, we pray these resources will be a boon to you.
To support your Christ-conforming educational process, we humbly offer:
- objective commentary on how the interpretations of well-respected theologians align with the Spirit-superintended words of the Holy Bible, and
- subjective suggestions as to where these perspectives can be extended or adjusted for the contemporary, private ministry setting.
Psychology and Christianity: Five Views (Johnson)
Essays representing the spectrum of how are we to understand our Christian beliefs about personhood in relation to secular psychological beliefs:
- A Levels-of-Explanation View from David G. Myers
- An Integration View from Stanton L. Jones
- A Christian Psychology View from Robert C. Roberts and Paul J. Watson
- A Transformational Psychology View from John H. Coe and Todd W. Hall
- A Biblical Counseling View from David Powlison
Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love (Welch)
Written out of the conviction that friends are the best helpers, this accessible introduction to biblical counseling will equip believers to share their burdens with one another through gentle words of wisdom and kind acts of love. This book is written for those eager to see God use ordinary relationships and conversations between ordinary Christians to work extraordinary miracles in the lives of his people.
The Integration of Psychology and Christianity: A Domain-Based Approach (Hathaway & Yarhouse)
Over the course of recent decades, scholars and practitioners have been working to integrate contemporary psychology-related fields and Christianity. This overview takes stock of the integration project to date, provide an introduction for those who wish to come on board, highlight work yet to be done, and offer a framework to strategically organize next steps.
Legal Issues in Biblical Counseling: Direction and Help for Churches and Counselors Johnson and Wilde (Eds). (2022).
This book encourages the church to engage responsibly in the ministry of biblical counseling while seeking to comply with governmental regulations. The importance of involving legal counsel in creating ministry documents, setting up liability insurance, and counseling those involved in the legal system is discussed.
Skills for Effective Counseling
Anyone in a helping profession—including professional counselors, spiritual directors, pastoral counselors, chaplains, and lay leaders—needs to develop effective communication skills. But learning these skills is like learning a new language: it takes time and practice to communicate effectively, and lack of practice can lead to declining fluency in this new language.
Engaging in Counseling Research with Curiosity and Wisdom (Kansiewicz & Loosemore)
In counseling and psychology programs, students and educators alike often approach research with feelings of apprehension. Educators and researchers Kristen Kansiewicz and Paul Loosemore offer a different perspective. In Engaging in Counseling Research with Curiosity and Wisdom, they reveal how research is not only an essential element of mental health work but a unique invitation to curiosity, wisdom, and personal growth.
Modern Psychopathologies (Yarhouse, McRay, Butman)
Navigate the complexities of mental health from a Christian worldview with Modern Psychopathologies. Written by well-known and respected scholars Mark A. Yarhouse, Barrett W. McRay, and Richard E. Butman, this classic textbook, now in its third edition, provides a comprehensive introduction to the major psychopathologies identified in contemporary mental health care.
Connecting Across Differences: Skills for Healthy Communication at Work and Home (Borishade)
Discover how God designed us uniquely to connect, grow, and thrive together—even through our differences. Connecting Across Differences explores how God designed us with unique differences and how this can strengthen our personal and professional relationships when approached with empathy and grace. Using biblical wisdom and practical tools, James Borishade invites readers into a journey of self-discovery, relational growth, and healing through faith-based principles.
The Art of Asking Better Questions (Briggs)
In The Art of Asking Better Questions, J.R. Briggs offers a thoughtful exploration of how intentional, well-crafted questions can transform relationships, leadership, and spiritual growth. Guided by the wisdom of Jesus as the ultimate question-asker, this book introduces four levels of questions designed to address different purposes and provide practical tools to improve your conversations.
The Way of Befriending (Bassalé)
In a world fractured by division and isolation, The Way of Befriending offers a transformative vision of connection. Parfait Bassalé, a belonging strategist,singer-songwriter, and storyteller shows how we can dismantle barriers of race, religion, and identity, healing relationships and communities by befriending others through: courage, curiosity, and compassion.
The Connected Life (Hall)
In our increasingly isolated world, the longing for genuine connection has never been more profound. The Connected Life by psychologist Todd Hall offers a transformative roadmap for Christians seeking real relational connection and authentic spiritual growth. Drawing from years of research on human relationships and attachment theory, Hall uncovers a profound truth: real transformation doesn’t happen through head knowledge alone—it flourishes through the deep, meaningful connections we form with God and others.
Hope for Caregivers (Nouwen)
Henri Nouwen’s timeless wisdom reminds us once again of the transformation that love brings, both when we allow ourselves to give love with abandon and when we allow ourselves to receive love. Caregiving too often is reduced to a list of tasks—doing the things that another individual cannot do independently. In six weeks of daily devotions inspired by the words of Henri Nouwen and intertwined with Scripture and prayer, Hope for Caregivers summons us away from our lists for a few moments each day and draws us to a fresh framework for the experience of giving care.
Books Published by ICCCED-T
A fundamental aspect of our work as a 501(c)(3) research institution is the production of new contributions to the Christian literature. It is an honor to author and publish books on how God’s truth is not only relevant, but necessary for contemporary life. This is God’s mission for the Institute of Christ-Conforming Conjoint Education, Discipleship & Therapy, and we invite you to grab a chair and sit with us.
We see all our understandings as works in progress, and we welcome your direct feedback to improve subsequent editions. Read, enjoy, and email us your reactions!
Reviewers: Reach out to us if you wish to receive a copy for review and/or endorsement.
Donors: Reach out if you wish to receive any book as a token of our appreciation!
New York
State of Mind
IN THE EMPIRE STATE OF NEW YORK, ONE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A MINDSET OF RISING ABOVE THE FRAY ON A DAILY BASIS: THINKING MORE CLEARLY, FEELING MORE CONFIDENTLY, AND ACTING MORE BOLDLY AS INEVITABLE CHALLENGES (AND CHALLENGERS!) ARISE. WHILE TRUE FOR ALL TOP-PERFORMERS, THIS IS PERHAPS EVEN MORE CRITICAL FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY ANSWER TO A HIGHER POWER.
New York State of Mind is an instructional book series from the desk of a Christian licensed to counsel. It is offered as a foundational reference guide for those who are interested in how to care for those in the most demanding of environments (i.e., New York). It could have just as easily been titled “Empire State of Mind” to be generalized for those licensed to practice in other jurisdictions; encouraging all Christians who are motivated to act congruently to their personal birthrights as natives of the kingdom/empire of God while practicing within the clinical context of any secularized state in the Union.
Whether you are in the middle of your academic training, have graduated but are still in the starting stages of establishing your professional identity, or have many years in practice and are seeking to be refreshed, this book series will give you the opportunity to reflect upon and reposition yourself in light of your Christian presuppositions.
It will give you the opportunity to practice what you may already preach either at church or home. All that is required is for you to be open to picking up this book series and doing one’s own personal work as a professional! For biblical clinicians, the outcome can be generation of practice-based evidence that can responsibly build not just a kingdom but an empire of God within Empire State rules and regulations.
Volume I: Clinical Formation & Implementation
The first volume is a set of essays and functional tools to guide you, the Christian counselor in Clinical Formation and Implementation.
It begins with considering what first drew one into the helping profession in the first place or what one hopes to accomplish and be known for (as we as what to not be known for), this book is a practical read that begs to be implemented. It will shape you as a person confessing your faith not simply with words or speech, but in the research you choose to implement, the research you yourself propose, and the research you yourself conduct. It will also give you the opportunity to practice what you preach (either at church or home) in the experimental group counseling laboratory, in order to generate the practice-based evidence that can responsibly build not just a kingdom but an empire of God within Empire State rules and regulations.
Volume II: Clinical Assessments & Treatment
The second volume is a set of essays and functional tools to guide you, the Christian counselor in Clinical Assessments and Treatments.
It begins with considering which initial measurements would be most effective and efficient, for scientifically valid and reliable appraisals of cognitive ability or mental health diagnoses. These are then quickly followed by assessments in the intake sessions that mark the beginning of regular therapy. Ongoing assessments with external factors and corresponding treatment approaches are then provided to cover the wide range of possible information that can be purposefully sought out in the course of psychotherapy, and the equally diverse interpretations and interventions that biblical clinicians can faithfully develop in the care of their patients.
Office of the Christian Psychologist
MANY VIEW CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE THREEFOLD OFFICE OF JESUS CHRIST; COMPRISING HIS ROLES AS PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING. WHAT THEN IS ONE TO MAKE OF THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGIST THAT SO MANY TURN TO IN THEIR BID FOR COUNSEL?
The Office of the Christian Psychologist book series details what psychologists must consider if they are to prepare for, and approach, these roles as Christian leaders. After all, “Christian,” implies that one follows Christ. “Psychologist,” connotes a mission of understanding the human mind, ostensibly to help it conform to the mind of Christ. Christian psychologists can thus be formed and assessed through a triperspectival leadership rubric in one of two ways.
(1) How well one embodies the biblical leadership exemplified in each of the three offices: (a) humbly holding counselees accountable to the overall vision, specific laws, and intervening discipline of God the Father; (b) boldly directing a session with explicit connection to the truths spoken/actioned by God the Son who is the Revealer and revealed Word of God; and (c) painstakingly preparing counselees for the sanctification of God the Spirit in session and between sessions.
(2) How well one supports the head office as a de facto field office—extending the efforts of traditional offices (viz., kingly church board members, prophetic pastors, priestly deaconate or small/community group leaders).
Volume I:
His Leadership, Our Abilities
Volume I: His Leadership, Our Abilities (Lessons from a Missionary in the Field) embarks upon the formation process with purposeful attempts to set out, demystify, and flesh out the details of leadership customized for each particular situation—starting with the helper’s own’s unique set of abilities under the auspices of God’s guidance. By God’s grace, these will assist Christian psychologists in managing the plethora of etic and emic considerations as they prepare for and fulfill their de facto mandates as Christian leaders.
Volume II:
His Context, Their Conditions
Volume II: His Context, Their Conditions (Lessons from a Missionary in the Field) embarks upon the formation process with purposeful attempts to set out, demystify, and flesh out the details of leadership customized for each particular situation—treating the specific conditions of those they serve in the context of God’s sovereign presence. By God’s grace, these will assist Christian psychologists in managing the plethora of etic and emic considerations as they prepare for and fulfill their de facto mandates as Christian leaders.