The purpose of these Group Discussion Board Forums is to expand your thinking about the course materials or apply course materials to counseling scenarios. Some of the discussion board questions have a strong analytical component, as fitting a graduate level course. As a basis for your reflection/evaluation/application, you will be asked to review the content covered during the discussion modules/weeks.

In response to the posted discussion question (Modules/Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8), post your thread by the date specified using at least 400 words. The grading rubric does not grade for word count. However, realize that too many words may indicate wordiness, but too few words may indicate incomplete thought. In addition to supporting your initial comments from course materials (with proper, current APA citation), the integration of a Christian worldview is always appropriate.

To foster discussion, you will be required to reply to the threads of at least 2 classmates. Your reply must be of appropriate length (at least 200 words), but word count is not a grading criteria. In addition, your instructor may ask you to reply to the instructor’s follow-up ideas as part of the discussion board requirement (and included in the grade). When you reply to student or instructor posts, expand the discussion. Limit “I agree” statements, but rather explain the reasons why you agree or disagree. Expand ideas, challenge thinking, probe, and ask for clarification. In all discussion board work, keep these points in mind:

• Use appropriate netiquette,
• Write at graduate level, and
• Cite in-text per current APA format and list references at the bottom of your post.

When citing any of the presentations provided in the Reading & Study folders, your references must look like the following:

Brewer, G., & Peters, C., (n.d). [Insert audio lecture title or notes title]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University.

So, for example, a reference would look like this:

Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Three, Lecture One: Christian spirituality and the ministry of counseling. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.

Submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of the assigned modules/weeks and submit your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the same modules/weeks except for Module/Week 8.

In Module/Week 8, submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday and submit your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.

Discussion Question: Your human services counseling clients will come to you suffering at one level or another. Our lectures for the last two weeks, and both the course texts, all discuss the concept of suffering and factors guiding how to counsel those who are suffering. In fact, a careful reading of the Reading & Study materials indicates numerous concepts and principles that could apply in counseling those who are hurting.

1. As you counsel your hurting clients, what you say to them will be guided by your own beliefs about the role of suffering in human experience (part of your own “theoretical map” as discussed in the lecture). Considering the numerous points that were made in the course, make a list of at least 5 concepts (“questions to ask myself as I counsel those who are suffering. . . “) that you found particularly helpful, insightful, unique, or had not thought about before. What guidelines would you particularly emphasize as you counsel hurting people? The five concepts you list should be based on the course materials, so make sure you cite the source you use.
2. Then consider the following scenario. What suggestions from the course materials would you want to apply to this hurting client? Why did you choose those suggestions as most important?

Scenario

You work primarily for an adoption agency but on some evenings, you volunteer your time at your church’s free counseling clinic. Your client in that setting, Jamie, was recently divorced, and expresses that she “has no direction” in life. She feels very rejected and alone. She often cries in session and in her latest session, lashed out at you, her therapist, since she was “not feeling better.” She questioned whether you were really helping her since she is still “feeling all this pain.” She left asking, “Why can’t you help remove this needless suffering?”

Replies: In your responses to at least two classmates, ELIMINATE simple “I agree” statement. Rather, comment on the strength and weaknesses of your classmates’ posts. Were the five points mentioned by your classmate truly insightful or unique, or were they obvious? Please also briefly critique the suggestions offered by your classmates in responding to the scenario.

Submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Module/Week 4 and your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the same module/week.