As the Lord tears down and rebuilds lives, we are invited to be his workmen. The vision of the Department of Counseling and Interpersonal Relations faculty is for our students to have a strong, unwavering biblical world view and a deep understanding that Christ makes all things new.
Our students are trained to assist hurting people in the healing journey by being scripturally grounded, professionally skilled, and interpersonally competent as they work in faith-based and secular mental health agencies. The Master of Arts in Interpersonal Relations degree is for those who have career goals that do not require licensure, such as pastors, human resource directors, teachers, coaches, nurses, law enforcement officers, managers, student affairs personnel on college and university campuses, lay people, and others who require counseling skills in the work place.
This 37-credit-hour degree offers training in the application of skills to assist hurting individuals in ministry and secular settings. The M.A. in Interpersonal Relations degree prepares individuals to minister in the church, on the mission field, and in the work place, without becoming licensed.
The Grace College Graduate Department of Counseling & Interpersonal Relations had an unparalleled student presence at the annual Indiana Counseling Association conference. Read more (pdf)...
CPY505, CPY 505I Theological Foundations of Counseling
This course will examine the theological foundation of counseling specifically as it pertains to Scriptural truth and principles. Topics such as the historical relationship between counseling and theology; attributes of God as the author of counseling; key concepts of biblical counseling; therapeutic process of biblical counseling; and therapeutic techniques of biblical counseling will be explored. Three hours.
CPY635, CPY 635I Group Counseling
This course will examine the history, theories and methods of group counseling as applied in a multicultural society and as viewed from a Christian perspective. Learners will be trained in applications of group psychotherapy through group discussions, a group experiential simulation, and role-playing demonstrations for the purpose of developing and growing their group leadership proficiency. Three hours.
CPY550, CPY 550I Psychotherapy and Trauma
This course will examine the nature and practice of psychotherapy as it pertains to the topic of crises, disasters, and other trauma causing events. The nature of trauma, trauma resolution, and the standard of care in responding to trauma survivors will be explored. The course includes an emphasis on the study of Scripture to gain a biblical understanding of the process involved in grappling with suffering and how this applies to trauma survivors. Three hours.
CPY525, CPY 525I Psychopathology
This course provides an introduction to the concepts of psychopathology and to the major diagnostic categories of the current DSM and their etiologies. Learners will examine issues of psychopathology and normalcy through the lens of Scripture, providing an opportunity for students to develop diagnostic skills. Emphasis is placed on understanding how cultural, biological, social, psychological and spiritual factors are all necessary components when developing an ethical model of assessment and treatment planning. Three hours.
CPY620, CPY 620I Ethical/Legal Issues
This course is designed to develop a broad biblical knowledge base, critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills for mental health counseling practice. A focus on the development of student desire and diligence as practicing counselors and the development of a high degree of personal and professional ethics to enhance clinical work will be emphasized. Three hours.
B.A. in English, Grace College; M.A. in School Psychology, Ball State University; Ed.D. in School Psychology, Ball State University
About
Dr. Grill, Dean of the School of Behavioral Science, is a licensed school psychologist and has taught at Grace since 1978. He taught in the public school system and was a school psychologist for 10 years before joining the faculty at Grace. He is an elder at his church and takes every opportunity to talk and teach about the Holy Spirit's attributes and role in the Christian life. He is committed to taking regular mission trips to third world countries, and has led numerous workshops on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for local business and industry. He was the tennis coach at Grace for 23 years and is still very active in tennis, basketball, and golf. He and his wife, Becky, have one son and two grandchildren.
B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Winnipeg; M.A. in Counseling, Providence College; M.A. in Counseling, University of North Dakota; Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Indiana State University.
About
Dr. Schultz's salient interest is the issue of suffering and how this impacts a person’s spiritual walk. She has co-authored a book on the topic of counseling and prayer and is presently completing Beyond Desolate, a book on healing from child sexual abuse. Prior to coming to Grace in 1995, she counseled full-time at the Winnipeg Christian Counseling Group in Winnipeg, Canada, and taught part-time at Providence Seminary.
Deb Musser, Psy.D., LMHC
Interim Chair, Department of Graduate Counseling and Interpersonal Relations; Assistant Professor of Counseling
B.A. in Elementary Education, Grace College; M.A. in Counseling, Grace College; Psy.D. in Clinical Pyschology, Adler School of Professional Pyschology
About
Dr. Deb Musser has been a full-time/core faculty member in the Graduate Department of Counseling and Interpersonal Relations since 2007, having taught as a part-time instructor in the department for five years previous to that. Prof. Musser has a passion for instilling hope to hurting people and is especially interested in women's issues and social justice. Before joining the full-time faculty, she worked for twelve years in the Student Affairs Department at Grace College.
Diploma in Advanced German, Goethe Institute; B.A. in History, Grace College; M.Div., Grace Theological Seminary; D.Min. in Intercultural Studies, Grace Theological Seminary
About
Dr. Roger Peugh came to Grace in the fall of 1989 with three years of pastoral experience followed by 20 years of missionary experience as a church planter in Germany. While at Grace, he was involved as an elder in a church plant for 13 years. He is an active Bible conference speaker as well as guest-lecturer in several German Bible schools. In addition to his role as Professor in the School of Ministry Studies, Dr. Peugh serves Grace College as Campus Prayer Coordinator and is serving as the Interim Dean of Chapel. Dr. Peugh, who has authored on the topic of prayer, is married to Nancy and they have four children and eight grandchildren.
BB.C.E. in Christian Education, East Coast Bible College; M.A. in Community Counseling, Regent University; Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, Regent University.
About
Jerry Vuncannon, Jr., Ph.D., LPC (NC), NCC has been in practice as a counselor since 2004 and has been an adjunct professor with Regent University since 2007 and Grace College and Seminary since 2011. His professional interests include group counseling, multicultural counseling/issues, counselor training/development, counselor supervision, and counseling issues as it relates to international settings. He has traveled to various countries being involved with several counseling-related endeavors including training, teaching, supervision and consultation-related work. His personal interests include hiking, reading, and cooking; he considers cooking as his own personal therapy.
Careers
Some of the positions you can obtain:
Human Services Assistant
Working under the direction of a social worker or psychologist, Human Services Assistants help clients obtain benefits or services, monitor case records of clients, and report progress of the clients to the supervisor.
Public Advocate
Manage client inquiries by gathering information and responding to questions. Work to research and resolve problems in a timely manner. Assist members in understanding and maximizing the benefits and use of their program.
Mental Health Service Worker
Provide support to ensure that both the psychiatric and physical care needs of patients are met. Promote and maintain a healthy, safe, and therapeutic treatment setting that allows the recovery process to occur within the individual. This may involve evaluating or intervening and providing therapeutic one to one interaction with patients.
Case Manager
Providing wellness coaching, education, support, and referrals to various health and wellness programs. Use techniques such as motivational interviewing, behavior change, and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help people achieve optimal health and well being.
Behavioral Youth Specialist
Be responsible for creating a safe, supportive, therapeutic environment for young people at-risk through positive role modeling, implementing behavioral management techniques, and teaching relational boundaries.
Testimonials
What others are saying:
Ministry will change a person. Most prominently, my time in ministry has welled up in me a passion for counseling. Too many times individuals have walked into my office and I have been unprepared to help them through their pain. God used this fact, coupled with my own personal sorrows, and brought me to the Grace Graduate Department of Counseling. The classes I have attended have proved invaluable; from day one I was able to use what I learned in class in my work as a minister of the Gospel. This counseling program has changed my life and ministry. As I continue to progress through the graduate courses, God is using Grace in our walk together.
—Brian Walter, M.A. in Interpersonal Relations, graduating 2012
