As you engage this holiday season, we want to encourage you to...

We give thanks for all of you and want to encourage you all to be joyful always!  The hope behind this first newsletter is that we can connect not only the body of Christ, but also unite and encourage AGSC alumni, current students, prospective students, and friends of AGSC.

If you have ideas for future newsletters, please e-mail us at Nichole.Knott-Craig@nyack.edu.

Abstract of 2011 article in journal Edification, Vol 5, Issue 2, pages 125-136.*

 

The Expanded Psychospiritual Model: Foundations and Implications

By James Chin and Craig W. Ellison

Nyack College, Alliance Graduate School of Counseling

 

Four foundational sets of presuppositions are stated in re-introducing and elaborating the Expanded Psycho-Spiritual Model (EPSM) as a Christian psychology. Implications of this model for the practice of Christian counseling are discussed. The Transtheoretical Model of Change is employed as a framework to illustrate when and how the EPSM can be applied. Pragmatic application of multiple models describing the relationship between psychology and Christianity may contribute toward positive clinical outcomes and the ultimate goal of the restoration of shalom.

 

*The complete article can be found at http://christianpsych.org/wp_scp/edification_5_2.pdf

 

AGSC MISSION 2013: CUBA

Students and faculty traveled to Havanna, Cuba this summer for a service-learning course, "Counseling for the Global Context," taught by Dr. Elaine Eng. Additional faculty and staff who joined the journey were Dr. Carol Robles, Dr. Michael Gillern, and Elizabeth Dahlberg-Lee.

 

 

AGSC-NYC & Rockland students take a "Mental Health Day" @ Mianus River Gorge with Dr. Michael Gillern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Thoroughly review each course syllabus BEFORE the first class. During the first class, ask the professor to clarify any points in the syllabus that were unclear. Some students think they can just "show up" to the first class unprepared. That may have been the status quo in a bachelor's program, but that is not the expectation of master's-level students.

 

2. Do the required reading each week! And, order the required texts BEFORE the first class to keep ahead of the reading. Many students want to skip the reading, and instead hope the professor will spoonfeed the course material each week during class time. Instead, I tell students an analogy based on 1 Corinthians 3:6 (regarding planting, watering, and God giving the increase). I believe that when students read, they are planting the course material into their minds, and when the professor lectures, s/he is watering the planted seeds. Then, God will give the students the necessary increase to succeed!

 

3. Allocate enough time for your school work each week. I once heard that for every 3-credit class, students should allot 3 times as many hours each week for that class (3 hours in class and 6 hours outside the class). That is why a student taking 12-credit hours per semester is considered full-time (12 credits x 3 hours/credit = 36 hours). Some classes will require less than 6 outside-the-class hours and some will require more.

 

4. Spend daily time alone with the Lord, even if it is only 5 minutes a day. I encourage students to seek God as soon as they wake up, and have a post-it close at hand to jot down any golden nuggets of truth or direction that God might give them regarding that day. Let God direct your daily steps (Proverbs 16:9).

 

5. Actively seek classmate friendships. The development and journey of a counselor in training can be unique, lonely, and difficult without some like-minded comrades to empathize and encourage one another along the way.

 

Dr. Lisa Steiner, Ph.D., LMHC, LPC

 

Dr. Elaine Eng, Associate Professor of Mental Health Counseling

Alliance Graduate School of Counseling

 

Professional Presentations:

"The Mental Status Examination." Christian Medical and Dental Association. 

Chiangmai, Thailand. February 26, 2013.

 

"The Role of Narrative in Medicine." Christian Medical and Dental Association. 

Chiangmai, Thailand. February 20, 2013.

 

"Optimizing End of Life Care." Mental Health and Missions Conference. 

Indianapolis, Indiana. November 2013.

 

No matter where you are or what you're doing, we want to keep in touch with you. You can send us your updated contact information or submit engagement, wedding, birth, adoption, career, and ministry announcements on our website at www.nyack.edu/alumni or by emailing Erica.Videc@nyack.edu in the Alumni Office.