Brain Based Christian Counseling (BBCC) Training Program
This training program is designed for individuals with a Masters level counseling degree who want to incorporate the latest knowledge about the brain within the context of Christian faith into their practice. Dr. Matheson’s book, Your Faithful Brain: Designed for So Much More! is required reading.
The BBCC training program consists of four segments each consisting of six one-hour webinars and outside study assignments. A certificate of completion is available for each segment to participants who complete and demonstrate mastery of the material via an online examination. Participants who complete all four segments and pass the examinations are eligible to become BBCC certified counselors (see below for more details).
Tuition for each segment is $150 or $550 for all four. Training Segments*
1. Foundations of Brain Based Christian Counseling
2. Clinical Applications of Foundational Knowledge and Skills 3. Advanced Skill Development
4. Advanced Clinical Applications
*See page two for more detail on the content of each segment
Brain Based Christian Counselor Certification
Professional Certification: BBCC training program participants who demonstrate proficiency in all four segments of the program via the online examinations, agree to the practice guidelines and ethical principles of BBCC, and submit additional information supporting their qualification to practice independently in their state or province will be certified as Professional Brain Based Christian Counselors.
Provisional Certification: Provisional certification will be provided to Counselors-in-Training, Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors, and others who have not yet qualified to practice independently. Upon completion of their requirements to practice independently in their state or province, BBCC provisional certification will be converted to Professional certification. There is no additional charge for conversion from Provisional to Professional certification status.
Cost: $150
Certification Renewal: To demonstrate currency with this rapidly developing area of practice, BBCC certification is renewable every 5 years through participation in training updates and confirmation that the professional is otherwise maintaining currency with other pertinent qualifications to practice independently, such as state or provincial licensure.
Faithful Brain Institute ©
Foundations of Brain Based Christian Counseling
Module 1 - Baseline Autonomic and Psychophysiologic Status
Readings and Resources: Your Faith Brain: Chapter 1Clinical Interview Outline
Knowledge Gained: Homeostasis
Mirror neurons
Autonomic nervous system
Skills Acquired: Neuropsychological Clinical Interview
Part 1 - Basic Assessment
Module 2 - Neuropsychological History-Taking: Implicit & Explicit Memories Readings and Resources: Your Faithful Brain: Chapter 2
Faithful Brain Fitness Report
Knowledge Gained: Early neuroplasticity
Neurogenesis Neural epigenesis
Corrective emotions such as guilt and shame.
Skills Acquired: Neuropsychological Clinical Interview
Part 2 - Clinical Syndrome Assessment Module 3 - CBT / BBCC Strategies Overview
Readings and Resources: Your Faithful Brain: Chapter 3
BBCC Evidence- Based Intervention Matrix
Knowledge Gained: Cognitive Behavior Therapy effects on:
• Neuroplasticity
• Neurogenesis
• Neural epigenesis
• Guilt and shame
Skills Acquired: Nutrition
Exercise Sleep
Faith & Religious Practices Brain-Restorative Relationships
Readings and Resources: Brain Restorative Sleep Kit Personal Prayer Relaxation Kit
Knowledge Gained: Neuroconsolidation
Neurochemistry of sleep, sleep cycles and health.
Skills Acquired: BBCC Practice and Client Education:
• Brain Restorative Sleep
• Personal Prayer Relaxation
Module 5 - CBT for Character Development
Readings and Resources: Happy Hippocampus Exercise Kit
Knowledge Gained: Dominant neural networks
Character-trait basis of high quality-of-life
Skills Acquired: BBCC Practice and Client Education
Happy Hippocampus Exercise Module 6 - CBT to Develop a Healthy Future Orientation
Readings and Resources: Joyful Goaling Kit
Knowledge Gained: Harnessing brain pleasure circuits for creativity and productivity.
Skills Acquired: BBCC Practice and Client Education:
Faithful Brain Institute ©
Clinical Applications of Foundational Knowledge and Skills
Module 7 - Developing Healthy Neural Networks to Minimize Anxiety Disorders - Part 1 Readings and Resources: Your Faithful Brain: Chapter 4
NIH PROMIS Anxiety Assessment Kit
Knowledge Gained: Early brain maladaptation
Neural substrates of anxiety
Skills Acquired: Active forgiveness to re-frame early neuropsychological history
and its effect on the adult brain.
Module 8 - Developing Healthy Neural Networks to Minimize Anxiety Disorders - Part 2 Readings and Resources: PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Assessment Kit
Knowledge Gained: Brain circuits engaged by cognitive behavior therapy for
anxiety within a Christian context.
Skills Acquired: Cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety within a Christian
context.
Module 9 - Developing Healthy Neural Networks to Minimize Depressive Disorders - Part 1 Readings and Resources: Your Faithful Brain: Chapter 6
NIH PROMIS Depression Assessment Kit
Knowledge Gained: Early brain maladaptation
Neural substrates of depression
Skills Acquired: Active gratitude to reframe the person-within-worldview to
optimize the adult brain
Module 10 - Developing Healthy Neural Networks as an Antidote to Depression - Part 2 Readings and Resources: Your Faithful Brain: Chapter 7
Three Blessings Exercise Kit
Knowledge Gained: Brain circuits engaged by cognitive behavior therapy for
depression within a Christian context
Module 11 - Developing Healthy Neural Networks to Minimize PTSD Readings and Resources: Systematic Desensitization Kit
Knowledge Gained: Brain basis of PTSD neuroplasticity and emotional salience
Remembering vs. re- experiencing
Skills Acquired: CBT and systematic desensitization to optimize brain resilience
Module 12 - Developing Healthy Neural Networks to Minimize ADD/ADHD Readings and Resources: Just-Right Challenge Kit
Knowledge Gained: Effects of sleep, nutrition, and educational environment on the
performance-activation curve
Skills Acquired: CBT and just-right challenges to optimize performance-
Faithful Brain Institute ©
Advanced Skill Development
Knowledge Modules
Module 13 - Brains of clients who are angry and resistant.
Module 14 - Brains of clients with deep childhood emotional wounds Module 15 - Brains of clients with deep adult emotional wounds
Skills Modules
Module 16 - Sleep challenges from childhood through older adulthood Module 17 - Character development from childhood through older adulthood Module 18 - Goal-directed post-traumatic growth
Advanced Clinical Applications
Applications to Clinical Syndromes
Module 19 - Brain-Based self-management of obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias and panic disorders - Part 1
Module 20 - Brain-Based self-management of obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias and panic disorders - Part 2
Module 21 - Brain-Based self-management of depressive disorders and bipolar disorders - Part 1
Module 22 - Brain-Based self-management of depressive disorders and bipolar disorders - Part 2
Module 23 - Brain-based management of Chronic PTSD Module 24 - Brain-based management of Adult ADD/ADHD
