Counselling

Counselling

Counselling

The Master of Divinity in Counselling is designed to prepare graduates for employment in clinical counselling or church ministry settings. Students with a clinical focus are geared towards psychotherapy and preparation for certification with professional counselling associations such as the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Graduates with a pastoral care and counselling focus are trained in issues such as: family conflicts, crisis intervention, and life transitions. As a Tyndale student you will gain counselling experience through practical counselling internships.

Our program provides educational preparation for students to become certified counsellors through associations such as:

● American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

● Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education (CAPPE)

● Ontario Society of Psychotherapists (OSP)

● Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP)

Counselling Certification

Our program provides educational preparation for students to become certified counsellors with counselling associations. The degree prepares students for employment in secular and Christian social service agencies, private practices, chaplaincy settings, or in congregtational church environments. Our faculty equip students with the academic and applied knowledge they need to counsel clients on issues including: interpersonal conflict, couple and family therapy, depression, abuse, at risk youth, suicidal thoughts, and grief.

 

Counselling Internships

Students undergo hundreds of hours of training in lab work and in a counselling internship practicum. By utilizing counselling theories and techniques in the field, you gain the experience and counselling skills necessary to work effectively in the community. Our program is focused on producing trained counsellors rather than producing clinical psychologists or clinical scientists.
 

Expert Teaching

Our professors are practicing counsellors and therapists who serve as advisors and mentors to our students. Our faculty teaches courses that center on the theological and psychological understanding of human personhood, and the therapeutic process in areas including: Christian counselling, personality theories, family systems theory, marriage and family therapy, child and adolescent counselling, pastoral counselling, and crisis intervention.

Clinical Track

The Clinical Track is intended for those who are seeking to become credentialed in the Province of Ontario to offer psychotherapy in agencies (secular or Christian) or in private practice. The training would lead towards preparing graduates to practice psychotherapy with clients who are struggling with internal and interpersonal issues that require in-depth, longer-term therapy.

Tyndale Seminary's Counselling program provides educational preparation, but not certification, as a counsellor/therapist. Further clinical experience and supervision will be required post-graduation to obtain professional accreditation with a certifying body.

Students who plan to pursue certification with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) should consult with Dr. Scuse early in their program regarding membership criteria.

Program Requirements for Clinical Track:

Biblical Studies (4):

  • [BIBL 0501] Biblical Interpretation: Interpreting and Applying the Biblical Text
  • [OLDT 0511] Old Testament Theology and History
  • [NEWT 0522] New Testament Theology and History
  • One Old Testament or New Testament Elective
     

Theology (3):

  • [THEO 0531] Systematic Theology I
  • [THEO 0532] Systematic Theology II
  • [THEO 0646] Theology of the Human Person
     

Christian History (2):

  • [HIST 0561] History of Christianity I
  • [HIST 0562] History of Christianity II
     

Ministry Formation (3):

  • [SPIR 0700] Spiritual Formation
  • [LEAD 0510] Leadership Development
  • [MISS 0782] Gospel, Church, and Culture
     

Courses for Major in Counselling (9):

  • [COUN 0574] Foundational Perspectives of Christian Counselling
  • [COUN 0674] Personality Theories
  • [COUN 0677] Family Systems Theory
  • [COUN 0772] Theories and Methods of Family Therapy
  • [COUN 0774] Theories and Methods of Family Therapy II
  • [COUN 0775] Professional Ethics
  • [COUN 0601] Pre-Internship Counselling Skills Lab I
  • [COUN 0602] Pre-Internship Counselling Skills Lab II
  • [COUN 0701] Counselling Major Internship
     

Counselling Electives (6)

Total MDiv Courses: (27)

Pastoral Care and Counselling Track

This track will focus on short term pastoral counselling around issues such as family and life crisis and other difficult life circumstances and transitions. Deeper psychotherapy would not be part of this work. Students in this track will have the flexibility to select electives to prepare them for leadership in congregational care and counselling ministries or chaplaincy.

Program Requirements for Pastoral Care and Counselling Track

The program requirements for the Pastoral Care and Counselling Track are the same as the Clinical Track in the areas of Biblical Studies, Theology, Christian History and Ministry Formation.

Courses for Major in Pastoral Care and Counselling Track (7)

  • [COUN 0574] Foundational Perspectives of Christian Counselling
  • [COUN 0677] Family Systems Theory
  • [THEO 0535] Professional Ethics [COUN 0775] or Christian Ethics 
  • [COUN 0601] Pre-Internship Counselling Skills Lab I
  • [COUN 0602] Pre-Internship Counselling Skills Lab II
  • [COUN 0683] Pastoral Counselling and Crisis Intervention
  • [COUN 0701] Counselling Major Internship
     

Counselling Electives (5)
Free Electives (3)
(Electives to be chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor.)

Total MDiv Courses: (27)

» Counselling MDiv

The MDiv Counselling major is a master degree which focuses on both the theological and psychological understanding of the human person in their relationships. The MDiv Counselling major is broken into two streams: Clinical or Pastoral counselling.

Program Coordinator

Dr. Paul D. Scuse

Assistant Professor of Counselling

Education:
BSc, University of Toronto, 1975
MDiv, Wycliffe College (University of Toronto), 1979
ThM, Wilfred Laurier University/Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, 1993
DMin, Wilfred Laurier University/Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, 1998

Areas of specialization: Marriage and Family Therapy, Pastoral Practice and Education, Pastoral Counselling, Sexual Therapy and Counselling

Dr. Scuse began teaching at Tyndale in 2001 and was appointed Assistant Professor of Counselling in 2003. He gives overall direction to the Counselling major. Dr. Scuse’s other teaching experience includes Wycliffe College and guest lecturing in family systems theory for the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education (CAPPE). Dr. Scuse has been an ordained minister in the Anglican Church of Canada since 1979. Since that time, he has served in full-time pastoral ministry in congregations in Oshawa, Toronto and Stouffville. He developed advanced expertise in pastoral counselling and marriage and family therapy through studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, together with experience at the Interfaith Pastoral Counselling Centre in Kitchener, ON. Since 1993, he has combined parish ministry with a private counseling practice. Dr. Scuse is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and a Registered Member of the Board of Examiners in Sexual Therapy and Counselling in Ontario (BESTCO). He is also a Pastoral Counselling Specialist with the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education (CAPPE).


Program Faculty

Susan Ellfeldt

Assistant Professor of Counselling

BA, California State University, 1984
MS, California State University, 1986
DMin, Palmer Seminary, 2010

Areas of Specialization: Marriage and Family Therapy.

Susan Ellfeldt has been teaching in the counselling program at Tyndale Seminary since 2003. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 25 years of counselling experience working with individuals, couples, and families. She has worked in church-based and private practice settings in both California and Ontario. She is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). An experienced supervisor, workshop leader and seminar instructor, she has worked with a number of churches and Christian organizations over the years providing staff training and development. In addition to her work at Tyndale, she works part-time with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship as a staff development specialist and directs Cornerstone Family Counselling Services in Mississauga.

Dr. Helen Noh

Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology

PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary (School of Psychology), 2003
MA, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2003
MS, Fuller Theological Seminary (School of Psychology), 2001
BSc (Hons), University of Toronto, 1996

Areas of Specialization: Marital and Family Therapy

Dr Noh’s area of specialization in both clinical practice and research is in the area of Marriage and Family Therapy. She completed her internship at Glen Roberts Child Study Center and Verdugo Mental Health, in Southern California, working with children, adults, and families, dealing with mental health issues, including depressive and anxiety disorders, ADHD, and PTSD, as well as family system issues, such as marriage and parenting. Her areas of research interest include Applied Psychology and Counseling with an emphasis on the integration of psychology, theology and spirituality.

Dr. Vincent H. K. Poon

Professor of Counselling

BSc, University of Manitoba, 1968
MD, University of Manitoba, 1972
MTS, Tyndale Seminary, 1982
DMin, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1988
PsyD, Newport University, 1991

Areas of Specialization: Marriage and family therapy, Whole Person and Family Centered Care, Family Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychology, Pastoral Counselling, Family Ministry.

Dr. Poon joined the Tyndale counselling ministries faculty in 1991. He has a wealth of experience in the disciplines of family medicine, theology, counselling, psychology, pastoral counselling and marriage and family therapy. He is an approved supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, a Fellow and Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and a faculty member of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. He has published widely and has presented many papers both in Canada and internationally. He ascribes to a truly whole-person and family-centered approach in the well being of individuals and families by looking at the bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual aspects of persons. Dr. Poon was a key member of the team that founded the Chinese Ministry Program at Tyndale in 1988. His teaching involvement at Tyndale includes counselling, pastoral counselling, family ministry and pastoral and Chinese ministry. He has served as the Chair of the Advisory Council at Tyndale. He directs the Mentoring and Pastoral Support Network of the Hudson Taylor Centre. Dr. Poon is an ordained counselling minister with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.

Talk to an Admissions Counsellor

The Seminary Admissions team would be pleased to answer any questions you might have about the application and admissions process, and they are also available to meet with you one on one. We look forward to talking with you.

Personal Information
Having your Postal/Zip code helps us know who your Admissions Counsellor will be.
If you want to give us your full address click on the link below.
By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.

Applying to Tyndale Seminary

Application Checklist for Full-and-part-time Degree-Seeking Canadian Students (not you?)


Use the following checklist to assist you:

1. ☑ Review our Admission Requirements

2. ☑ Prepare all required supporting documentation*:

  • Complete our application:

Online Application (Free) or
Download the Paper Application (mail it to Tyndale).

  • Have your references complete both the Pastoral/Character Reference form and the Academic/Employer Reference form either Online or by paper:

Pastoral/Character Reference Form and Academic/Employer Reference Form
Download the Paper Reference Forms (have references mail the forms to Tyndale)

3. ☑ Make sure you meet the appropriate deadlines

4. ☑ Confirm and submit your application

Send reference forms and official transcripts directly to:

Tyndale Admissions Office
25 Ballyconnor Court
Toronto, ON M2M 4B3
Canada
 

*If applicable:

  • Send your TOEFL and TWE or IELTS scores to the Admissions Office.
  • Complete and submit your Residence Application and deposit.
  • Complete and submit Medical Form (this is mandatory for all international students and students applying for residence).

 


One Course at a Time

Apply as an Occasional Student, a Letter of Permission Student, or an Audit Student by following the instructions on the Visiting Student Application Form.

Visiting Student Application Form 

Doctor of Ministry

Apply to the DMin program by using the D.Min Application Form.

D.Min Application Form

International Students

Apply by following the instructions on the International Application Form.

International Application Form  

 


Need help? Contact Admissions at: 1-877-TYNDALE (896-3253) | 416-218-6757 (local) | admissions@tyndale.ca