• Must be an ordained minister with two years pastoral experience or on the 

pastoral staff of a local church or ministry
• All curricula must be completed in residence on the campus of The Therapon Institute in Marrero, LA.


• Curriculum:

Belief Therapy
The Source of Destructive Behavior 
The subject traces the lie vs. truth theme in the Word of God. The material is the basis for Belief Therapy. 1 1/2 clock hours – Paul Carlin, Th.D., Ph.D.

Temperament Types and Disorders 
The subject explains and explores the four basic temperament types.  The material includes a personal discovery profile, a detailed explanation of each temperament type, listing both strengths and weaknesses of each and insight into how to counsel people by temperament type. 1 1/2 clock hours –  Jeri Carlin, MA

The Course of Destructive Behavior
The material includes the landscape of the mind and a step-by-step journey through the stages of maladaptive behavior. 1 1/2 clock hours – Paul Carlin, Th.D., Ph.D.

Grief and Loss
Sickness, dying and death – conditions every pastor will encounter. No area of ministry responsibility is more sensitive. The material will detail an understanding of the grief cycle. 3 clock hours –  Nicholas Eno, Th.D., LPC, LMFT

Psychotropic Medications
A medical overview, specifically prepared for pastors, of the various medications prescribed for clinically diagnosed disorders. It is important for pastors to have introductory, basic knowledge of these medications. It is impossible to estimate how many members of local churches are using prescription drugs as a treatment for emotional, spiritual and personality disorders. However, the numbers are surprising. 3 clock hours. 

The Counseling Cycle
Using Therapon’s CARE Procedure, the material will provide the Licensed Pastoral Counselor with a track to run on in a counseling session. The material includes a detailed explanation of the proper use of counseling forms that should be included in every client file. 1 1/2 clock hours –  Forrest Lowry, D.Min., LBT

Dispute / Conflict Resolution
The subject will explore specific methods and procedures, rules and laws that are involved in dispute resolution. Pastoral Counselors are often faced with both church and marriage conflicts that will result in destroying relationships unless resolution is properly facilitated. 3 clock hours 

Domestic Violence
The subject examines the myths about spousal battering, the different types of abuse in the home and the help needed. 3 clock hours 

LFMC Counseling From The Pulpit
For the sensitive pastor with training in pastoral counseling, the time spent preaching can be one of the most effective means of both preventing and solving personal issues in the congregation. The subject not only looks at the pulpit as an opportunity, but also suggest important counseling issues that can be handled from the pulpit. 1 1/2 clock hours – Forrest Lowry, D.Min.

The Personal Inventory Profile
The subject explains the professional use of the personal inventory profile developed by Dr. Neal Anderson. There is not a more effective counseling tool for the pastoral counselor. Two hours homework, 3 clock hours in class, five hours total – Nicholas Eno, Th.D., LPC, LMFT 

Family Counseling
The subject develops a thoroughly Biblical approach to family counseling. 3 clock hours – Ed Fleming, LBT 

Personal Ethics
The subject focuses first on Biblical foundations for ethics then moves into 20 ethical areas sensitive to public and professional health. 1 ½ clock hours – Paul Carlin, Th.D., Ph.D.

Spiritual Roots of Distortions and Disorders
An original study of the “path of the root,” identification of the 14 unclean spirits specifically named in the Word of God and a clear explanation of their assignments. All emotional problems are spiritual problems. Sometimes they are hybrid - a combination of spiritual and physical. 3 clock hours –  James Ross, Th.D

Total clock hours: 44

Tuition:  $450

Q. Is resident attendance required for me to complete my licensure programs?
A. Yes. The Therapon Institute maintains very high standards and is an approved education provider for some of the most prestigious boards in the country. Your credentials are only as good as our credentials. Some of our certification studies can be done by distance-ed. However, all of our licensure courses must be completed on campus. Therapon is located in Crockett, Texas.

Q. Will I receive a certificate when I complete the residency work?
A. Yes. Upon completion, on Wednesday evening, graduates receive their numbered Pastoral Licensed Counselor certificate. Our teaching schedule begins on Sunday evening and concludes on  Wednesday evening. For some pastors, that will mean missing a Sunday night and a Wednesday night service.  Your church body will, however, be very proud of you for taking the time to learn what they know is ultimately going to help them. You will take home pages of notes that may be translated into a powerful sermon series designed to help produce a spiritually and emotionally healthy church body.

Q. Is financing or financial help available for the tuition?
A. First, Therapon provides a $300 scholarship to help with the original tuition of $910. By using the Scholarship Certificate, your tuition is only $610. Second, we accept Visa and Master Card credit cards. Third, most local churches are willing to pay for the pastor’s tuition and travel to attend to the school. Some churches may even receive special love offerings for a pastor’s trip to Therapon for the licensure program. Full tuition is required with the Application For Enrollment. A full refund will be made to any applicant who does not show up for the class.

Q. Are there tests involved?
A. No. We do give an open book exit exam that takes about 20 minutes to complete. The exam is like a capsule review of some very important points. Most of our faculty is present during most of the school. At breaks and during leisure times, they personally visit with every pastor. They get to know the pastors and are constantly providing input from feedback. These are important times of what we call “oral communication.”

Q. Can our Therapon clock hours be transferred for college credits?
A. That is always up to the school you select. Any institution of higher learning may accept any credits from any school they desire. However, all of Therapon’s courses are approved for continuing education credit by professional counseling licensure boards. The Therapon Institute does have a fraternal relationship with Therapon University in St. Thomas, USVI. TU accepts all TI hours toward any degree program they offer.

Q. Will we have continuing support and additional advance training?
A. Yes. Our staff of professionals and paraprofessionals will be ready to assist you anytime you call. We will be offering advanced training through both resident and distance-ed courses.

Q. Is there an annual licensure renewal fee and/or process?
A. Yes. There is no fee, but there is a process. A Therapon Pastoral Licensed Counselor is required to complete one 13-hour continuing education course from Therapon annually. This can be done on campus in Marrero or through distance-ed. 

Q. How and how soon should I enroll for a Pastoral Licensed Counselor class?
A. As soon as possible and no later than three weeks before the class date. We accept only 60 students per class. You may use the Application For Enrollment with this package of information.  Answer all of the questions and provide any back-up information suggested on the Application. Mail the Application to Therapon Institute, 5049 Ehret Road, Marrero, LA 70072.  If you are paying your tuition with a credit card, you may FAX it to Therapon at (504) 328-2249.

Jeri Carlin, MA: Vice President of The Therapon Institute. Jeri completed both her under graduate work and graduate work at Louisiana Baptist University. Her Masters Degree is in psychology and Christian Counseling. She is also a graduate Temperament Analyst is from The Institute For Motivational Living.

Dr. Forrest Lowry: Chairman of The Board of Directors of The Therapon Institute and President of the Therapon Church Ministries Division. He completed his undergraduate work at Arkansas Tech University and his Doctor of Ministry at Mid-America Seminary. Dr. Lowry spent 30 years in the pastorate. His last 13 pastoral years were spent as senior pastor of the mega Spring Baptist Church. He served on the Executive Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for seven years. 

Dr. Nicholas Eno, LPC, LMFT: Nick Eno is founder and Chief Servant of Crossroad Encounter, a ministry dedicated to the Care of Souls. Until recently, he served as Director of Counseling Services at The Potters House in Dallas, Texas. Prior to moving to Dallas, Dr. Eno was Adjunct Professor at Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he also maintained a private practice. As well as his LPC and LMFT credentials, he is an approved Clinical Supervisor in the State of Texas. Eno holds numerous clinical and pastoral certifications. He resides in Arlington, Texas, with his wife and daughter.

Dr. James Ross, Th.D., LBT: James Ross is a senior chaplain in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He has spent years developing his grasp of the Greek language of the New Testament. Dr. Ross brings to the school a rich background in Biblical scholarship, pastoral experience, hands-on experience with extreme behavioral disorders and Biblical application. He is the author of Foundations, an unprecedented work on discipleship.

Ed Fleming, MA, LBT: Pastor Ed Fleming has been in ministry for over thirty years serving on staff as pastor, missionary, associate and Biblical counselor. He is a graduate of Baptist Bible College and Colorado Christian University. Ed has received additional training through Clinical Pastoral Education, Scope Ministries and The Therapon Institute. He and his wife, Linda, have been married for over thirty-four years. Their two children and their families are actively serving Christ. Currently, he is serving as Pastor of Counseling at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Therapon now has its complete basic faith-based, Christian, Biblical, nationally registered Certified Belief Therapist course of study in an easy to follow home study format. The course comes with six audio tapes, four textbooks and an easy to follow workbook. There are no test or term papers to write. The curriculum is complete in the books and tapes. Click here for more information about the distance-ed course option.

Tuition for the complete CBT course is only $240.

You may enroll in the course by telephoning (936) 544-5400