Counseling Training

Biblical Answers for Yourself and Others

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance
and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” – Romans 15:4
Thank you for your interest in our Biblical Counseling Training Center. We believe God “…has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3) Our aim is to equip Christians to counsel themselves and others from God’s Word.

We are an ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) certified training center. We  offer three weekends full of session that not only cover the required 30 hours of training for ACBC Certification, but also equip everyday Christians with biblical answers to face life's struggles. 

BIBLICAL COUNSELING FUNDAMENTALS

We offer three weekends of sessions once a month for three months:
WEEKEND 1
September 11th-12th, 2026
Friday: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-6:30pm
WEEKEND 2
October 23rd-24th, 2026
Friday: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-6:30pm
WEEKEND 3
November 13th-14th, 2026
Friday: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-6:30pm
Saturdays include an 50-minute lunch break

TOPICS

Foundations of Biblical Counseling
  • The need, definition, and goal of biblical counseling
  • The process of biblical change & progressive sanctification
  • Qualifications of a biblical counselor
  • Getting to heart issues - the 6 Key Elements of counseling
  • Secular vs. biblical approaches
Marriage & Family
  • Biblical Sexuality & God's purpose for marriage
  • Husband & wife roles
  • Communication
  • Parenting: goals, instruction, and discipline
Common Struggles
  • Guilt, repentance, and forgiveness
  • Trials & suffering
  • Fear, worry, and anger
  • Depression
  • Sexual sin
  • Physical illness
  • Psychotropic drugs
Practical Training
  • Observation Videos
  • Case Studies

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
(Count toward certification, if seeking)

  • How to Counsel Biblically by John MacArthur and Wayne Mack
  • Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul Tripp
  • Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack
  • A Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay Adams

COST

(all 3 seminars included in pricing)
$195 for early bird registration until August 10th, 2026
$225 August 11th, 2026

We offer a $25/person discount to groups of 5 or more.

Audit special pricing (previous completion):
$75

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Location

7920 Santa Rosa Road, Atascadero

Donations

We do not charge for our counseling. Our resources are available because of the registration fees from our courses and donations received. If you've benefited, or would like to help others benefit from this ministry, your donations are appreciated!
Donate

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are these sessions offered?
We usually offer these sessions annually. We are currently revamping the training, and will revisit when to teach them again after completion.
Do I need to purchase anything else after my registration?
We recommend 4 books (listed under "Recommended Books"), which can be purchased at amazon.com or christianbook.com.
What does it mean to be ACBC Certified?
ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) is a nonprofit organization who has set thorough guidelines to assure counselors are quipped with biblical answers. Cornerstone Biblical Counseling Training Center is an ACBC Certified training center. Learn more about ACBC at biblicalcounseling.com.
If I’m interested in biblical answers, but not in becoming certified, should I still take this training?
Yes! These sessions are for everyone! They are designed to equip you with biblical answers to life's most common struggles for yourself and others. You counsel your friends and family every day!
Do I receive anything confirming completion of the seminars?
At the end of the last session, we will hand out a “Certificate of Completion” stating you’ve finished the course. This does not signify certification with ACBC. You will need to complete the rest of their requirements (listed below). This training fulfills their requirement for 30 hours of training.
How do I get ACBC certified?
ACBC has set forth the following requirements for certification:

Phase I:
  • 30 hours biblical counseling training (Cornerstone’s  Biblical Counseling Fundamentals.)
  • 10 hours observing ACBC-certified counseling (some included in our training)
  • 700 pages counseling reading from ACBC reading list (Recommended books count toward this.)
  • 300 pages theological reading from ACBC reading list (Recommended books count toward this.)

Phase II:
  • ACBC Counseling Exam
  • ACBC Theology Exam
  • ACBC application – fill out and submit their application, along with supporting documentation

Phase III:
Complete 50 sessions of one-hour-minimum counseling, observed by a Fellow. **Please note, you have 1 year to complete Phase III after submitting your test and application in Phase II.

ACBC’s website goes through this process in depth, if you visit biblicalcounseling.com and click on Certification and select each phase from the dropdown. They also provide a tool to track your progress through the certification progress on the dropdown choice called “Pathway Through Certification.”