Overview
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Clinical Counselling and Psychotherapy addresses the growing need for skilled and competent mental health care, both in the church and in the marketplace. This program is designed for registered psychotherapists (or those in related professions) seeking to deepen their clinical expertise and further their professional training. Students learn in a hybrid format (online and in person) and will be equipped with advanced competencies, research opportunities and skills to expand their leadership platform, and bolster their practice.
Program Format
The Doctor of Ministry Clinical Counselling and Psychotherapy Track is a cohort model, with some sequenced courses. Students will complete 12 courses within 3 years, with distance learning and residency phases each year.
- The distance learning phase includes reading, writing, research, reflection, application, and collaboration primarily supported by teachers, personal growth coaches, and research portfolio advisors.
- The residency phase – two weeks in June and one week in January – includes worship and prayer, lectures, plenary discussions, group activities, small group meetings, and individual work.
The clinical nature of the program requires students to be professionally active, seeing clients. This requirement is typically met by the applicant being employed/active as a counsellor or psychotherapist, either full-time or part-time.
Courses
Year A
- DMCC 0941 Integration Overview /Person of the Therapist
- DMCC 0901 Integration of Faith and Psychology
- DMCC 0911 Grief, Bereavement, and Coping with Loss
- DMCC 0903 Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Year B
- DMCC 0902 Case Conceptualization and Design
- DMCC 0905 Advanced Couples Counselling
- DMCC 0906 Experiential Therapies
- DMCC 0942 Integration Proposal
Year C
- DMCC 0943 Clinical Field Project
- DMCC 0907 Methods & Treatment in Trauma and Resilience
- DMCC 0908 Deepening Cultural Competency
- DMCC 0947 Integration Portfolio
Faculty & Instructors

Ava Oleson
Building on over twenty-five years in Higher Education, Marriage and Family Therapy, Leadership Development, and Pastoral Ministry, Dr. Ava Oleson served as the Doctor of Ministry Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Leadership Studies & Counseling at Evangel University. She brings to the role an extensive background in counselling, leadership, systems thinking, education, and integration.

Helen Noh
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. Her areas of research interest include applied psychology and counselling with an emphasis on the integration of psychology, theology and spirituality.

Susan Ellfeldt
Dr. Susan Ellfeldt has been an Assistant Professor in the counselling program at Tyndale Seminary since 2003. In 2018 she became the Counselling program Coordinator and gives overall direction to the Counselling major. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 30 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families, and she has worked in Christian and secular agency settings and in private practice in both California and Ontario.