ABC Certification Course 2026-27:
In partnership with the Association of Biblical Counselors, The Owen Center will be offering a Level I ABC Certification class for those interested in gaining more insight, wisdom and knowledge in applying biblical counseling principles within their context.
Details:
The first class will begin in mid-November of 2026 and run through June of 2027. This course will include weekly readings from the ABC curriculum, articles from CCEF faculty members, and 20 hours of in-person training with Owen Center counselors. If you are not local, there will be a Zoom option as well. This class will be for a Certification in Biblical Counseling, so the workload will require approximately 10 hours of weekly work. The hope is that those who complete the class come away with a philosophy and methodology of biblical counseling that they can utilize within their local church contexts under the guidance of their church leadership, as well as a full Certification through ABC.
Costs:
The total costs of the class will be $1250, due before the first day of class.
Cost includes:
– $25 – Application Fee (Paid by student directly to ABC)
– $25 – Journal of Biblical Counseling (Paid by student directly to CCEF)
– $1200 – Class materials, Grading, Training, Administration (Paid to The Owen Center)
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- The full payment of $1200 is due to The Owen Center before the first day of class.
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* If a church is providing financial support for a student’s certification, we require that they provide the finances directly to the student, who then pays the tuition directly to The Owen Center by check or card.
Registration:
If you, or someone you know, is interested in attending, fill out this form or email theowencenterabc@gmail.com for more information. Registration closes October 12, 2026.
Sample Syllabus:
| Date | Week/Time | Description |
| 10/8/26 | 0 | 1) Registration Cut-off
2) Order Equipped to Counsel Level 1 Leader Guide from ABC. 3) Apply for Owen Center ABC Training 4) Enroll in ABC membership: 5) Full Payment due by November 12 ($1250) 6) Purchase one year of CCEF’s digital subscription for access to Journal of Biblical Counseling. |
| 11/12/26 | 1
6- 8:30 |
IN CLASS TRAINING
1. What is biblical counseling? 2. Counseling Worldview 3. Get started reading ahead (especially Cure of Souls (and the Modern Psychotherapies- Powlison)) |
| 12/3/26 | 2 | ONLINE MEETING (Check in Q&A)
Read ETC Module 1: Lessons 1-4 Read ETC Module 2: Lessons 5-6 Read Articles: Counseling is the Church- Powlison The Great Commission: A Paradigm for Ministry in the Local Church- Tripp Affirmations & Denials: A Proposed Definition of Biblical Counseling – Powlison What is Biblical Counseling Anyway?- Welch |
| 1/7/27 | 3 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1. The Aim and fruit of Biblical Counseling 2. Situational Pressures of the Fall and The Role of The Heart 3. Data Gathering 4. Introduction to The Use of Scripture: Biblical Exegesis Read ETC Module 2: Lessons 7-8 Read Articles: God’s Glory Is the Goal of Biblical Counseling – Piper Speaking Redemptively – Tripp Cure of Souls (and the Modern Psychotherapies) (if you have not read it already) |
| 1/14/27 | 4 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Read ETC Module 3: Lessons 9-10 Read Articles: Who is God? – Powlison Modern Therapies and the Church’s Faith Toward a Definition of the Essence of Biblical Counseling How Do you Help a “Psychologized” Counselee?
Your Story Paper due (submit everything to theowencenterabc@gmail.com) |
| 1/21/27 | 5 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1. Use of Scripture Part II 2. The Gospel and Sanctification Read ETC Module 3: Lessons 11-12 Read ETC Module 4: Lessons 13-16 Read Articles: – The Present Glories of Redemption – Is the Adonis Complex in Your Bible? – How Does Scripture Change You?
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| 6 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Read Articles: Who Are We? Needs, Longings, and the Image of God in Man The Therapeutic Gospel How Does Sanctification Work? (Part 1, 2, & 3) |
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| 2/4/27 | 7 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Read Articles: Understanding the Influences on the Human Heart Suffering and Psalm 119 Biological Psychiatry What if You Father Didn’t Love You?
Journal Article Response Process Paper 1 Due Community Project Reaction Paper Due |
| 2/11/27 | 8 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1. Understanding People 2. Suffering and The Heart Read ETC Module 5: 17-20 Read Articles Puritan Resources for Biblical Counseling Learning Contentment in All your Circumstances
Counseling Journal Meeting 1 (format can be found at https://christiancounseling.com/courses/etc-1-2nd-edition-updated-journal-1/) (submit each Journal to theowencenterabc@gmail.com) |
| 2/18/27 | 9 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Read ETC Module 6: Lesson 21-22 Read Articles: X-ray Questions: Drawing out the Why’s…of Human Behavior Opening Blind Eyes: Another Look at Data Gathering Data Gathering Part 2: What the Counselor Brings to the Process
Counseling Journal Meeting 2
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| 2/25/27 | 10 | IN CLASS TRAINING
Counseling Methodology Read ETC Module 6: Lessons 23-24 Read Articles Strategies for Opening Blind Eyes: Data Gathering Part 3 Illustrative Counseling Counseling People Who Resist Change
Counseling Journal Meeting 3 (Submit 2&3 to theowencenterabc@gmail.com) Format ca be found at https://christiancounseling.com/courses/etc-1-2nd-edition-updated-journal-2-3/.
Submit Session 3 Homework (found on training homepage)
EXAM 1 Due |
| 3/4/27 | 11 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Read ETC Module 7: Lessons 25-26 Read Articles The Bondage of Sin Addictions: New Ways of Seeing, New Ways of Walking Free
Counseling Journal Meeting 4 |
| 3/11/27 | 12 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1. Addiction and Anxiety Read ETC Module 7: Lesson 27-28 Read Articles Getting to the Heart of Your Worry “Peace, be still”: Learning Psalm 131 by Heart |
| 3/18/27 | 13 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Catch up on reading Counseling Journal Meeting 5 |
| 3/25/27 | 14 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Case Study Paper Due Counseling Journal Meeting 6 |
| 4/1/27 | 15 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1. Understanding Anger and Depression Read ETC Module 8: Lessons 29-33 Read Articles: Anger Part 1 & 2 Getting to the Heart of Conflict: Anger, Part 3
Counseling Journal Meeting 7 |
| 4/8/27 | 16 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Catch up on Reading Read Articles: The Valley of the Shadows of Death Counseling Those who Are Depressed Words of hope for Those Who Struggle with Depression
Counseling Journal Meeting 8 |
| 4/15/27 | 17 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1. Theology of Sexual Issues 2. Lay-Counseling in a Church Context Read ETC Module 9: Lessons 34-38 Read Articles: –What’s Right About Sex? Sexual Sin and the Wider, Deeper Battle Five Ministry Priorities for Those Struggling with Same-Sex Attraction Getting to Know the Experience of Same-Sex Attraction |
| 4/22/27 | 18 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Catch up on reading (ABC Conference)
Counseling Journal Meeting 9
Exam 2 |
| 4/29/27 | 19 | IN CLASS TRAINING
1.Wrap up Material 2. Q & A Case studies Catch up on reading
What Did You Expect? Paper Due Counseling Journal Meeting 10 |
| 5/6/27 | 20 | WORK ON YOUR OWN
Finish Reading Submit completed Counseling Journals Process Paper #2 due |
| 5/13/27 | 21 | Celebration/Certificate Reception |