Posted: February 3rd, 2015

Patoral Counseling: Case Study – Steve and Cindy

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

Case Study Instructions

About 15% of premarital couples report as “Conflicted” couples. The goal of this assignment is to evaluate the provided Facilitator’s report on a “Conflicted” couple and to submit a ministry plan to support this couple. This will require addressing 3 main areas: (1) identifying the key strengths and weaknesses between the couple, (2) discussing how the couple’s personalities might be influencing the situation, (3) developing a strategy to counsel, and potentially support, the couple through church ministry.

Your paper must be 9–10pages (not including title page and references) and must include at least 8 studied, theologically-sound approaches. You must utilize course materials, research and the Bible. This amounts to about 3 pages per section. Your paper must also include section headings clearly identifying the 3 required areas of concern outlined below.

Identify Key Areas (strengths and weaknesses) – This section must explore the overall Facilitator’s report and must clearly identify the problems at hand. Do not simply label the issues; explore the implications of the identified problems and how they might contribute to the overall conflicted relationship of the couple. Remember to review the couple’s background and other factors that may contribute to conflict. The Facilitator’s report contains significant data. Be sure to explore it thoroughly. Understanding this will provide the platform on which to minister to the couple. A subsection of this area must be focused on identifying the couple strengths; this can be used in the final ministry plan.

Personalities – This section must explore the 5 dimensions of the SCOPE personality assessment section and must discuss how these results could contribute to the conflict as well as the recovery of the relationship.

Ministry Plan – This section must outline a realistic approach to ministering to the couple, utilizing resources from areas such as pastoral counseling, church ministries (classes, small groups, etc.), and the community (other churches, community services, etc.). This must be based upon your actual resources. Some smaller churches do not have programs for finances, addiction, conflict, etc., but you may find that the churches around you do. This is an opportunity for you to do some research in your area and see what others are doing for couples.

This section must address how you would counsel the couple. Be specific to your overall strategy for addressing the previously identified issues. It must also address how local resources may be utilized to support the couple’s development. Remember, this must be realistic. You must not say that you are going to have the couple meet with you twice a week, read 2 books, take a class on finances, and join a small group. Even the most dedicated couple could not follow a regiment like that. The detail in this section must focus on your counseling strategy, supplemented by local resources, not just a note that you would refer the couple to a professional counselor (although that may be the case). Another important aspect of this section is to make sure you justify your approaches utilizing the information you have been given. Your goal is not to keep them busy with work but to diminish their weaknesses in a realistic manner.

Case Study: Final Grading Rubric