Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder
When we think about Bipolar Disorder we tend to think of it as one type of mental illness when in fact there are a few variations. Bipolar disorders (manic-depressive disorders) are classified as a ‘chronic mental health condition’ characterised by periods of low mood such as depression as well as periods of mania, or extreme…
How I Found God To Be A Mother To The Motherless
In ‘ ‘How I Found God To Be A Mother To The Motherless‘ Amy Simpson describes how she lost her mother to schizophrenia when she was only 14 years old and how in the journey to follow, she discovered that God is also a mother to the motherless. When I was 14, I lost my mother.…
Successful Open Days At Various Locations Around Australia
Recently aifc conducted our annual ‘Open Days’ for enquirers to learn as much as possible about our Christian counselling courses commencing in 2018. Some Open Days were held at our study centres or at Koorong stores at various locations around Australia. Open days are a great opportunity to meet trainers and students to learn more…
What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Animals and pets have long being thought to bring out the best in us. Guide dogs have been and used for years to assist the blind giving them mobility. Now in Australia and abroad some mental health professionals are using animals as part of their therapy. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) involves the use of animals as a form…
Jesus Christ The Risen Lord Transforming Lives Today
Jesus died and rose from the dead at Easter offering himself as atonement for man’s sins. We often focus only on the death of Jesus at Easter, and while this is important, we can sometimes forget that 3 days later Jesus rose from the dead. In so doing Jesus conquered death and provided us all…
New Beginnings: School’s Over – Now What?
You have been working towards this day for what feels like your whole life – and here it is! You may have imagined what it would be like; waking up on that first morning – no rushing, the guilt-free feeling of removing those study notes from the walls, the stress slipping away and you can…
The Need For Mental Health Support Within The Church
Recently ‘Christianity Today’ addressed a very important topic on; ‘The Christian Struggle with Mental Illness’ showing that many Christians who are directly affected by a mental illness aren’t talking about it. Most that aren’t directly impacted with a mental health problem have a family member or know someone who is. Churches need to be the community’s ‘go…
Canberra Open Day 2016
Canberra is having an open day this Saturday 10th of December 2016. If you’d like to find out more about aifc’s accredited Counselling courses commencing in 2017, come along to the aifc Open Day in Canberra where you can talk to tutors and students who will be there to answer your enquiries. When and Where…
Why Christian Counselling Training For Church Leaders Is Needed
Christians often reach out to church leaders first. Some of those Christians may have issues that require the help of a trained counsellor.
Words Fail Me – A Christian Poem
WORDS FAIL ME – A CHRISTIAN POEM Chris Thomas’ poem poses some serious questions as he self examines his faith. As Christians we need to ask ourselves these questions: What if God suddenly appeared before me? What would I do? What would I say? Words Fail Me What would I do what would I say,…
Australian Kids Seek Counselling Help
According to the Huffington Post, statistics show that Australian youth are reaching out for Mental Health Help more frequently now than in the previous years. Kids Help Line Insights Report shows that since 1996 there’s been a 626 percent increase in calls from young Australians seeking help for problems such as self-harm and for their…
Family Therapy & Characteristics Of A Healthy Family
Family therapy is focused on individuals and families to help improve their relationships, their communication and to help them to resolve conflicts. Family therapy is usually provided by a counsellor or mental health professional. Family therapy can help people in close relationships to help each other find ways forward out of difficult situations. It can…
Students Tell Us What They Like About Studying At aifc
Over the years our graduates have gone on to use their skills in ministry and to fulfill their vision for their career goals to help the community as skilled professionals and qualified counsellors. Students have a lot of good things to say about studying at aifc. Read the following Facebook comments that have been left…
Attitudes For Christian Counselling Are Changing Within The Church
Author of, “The Purpose Driven Life” and mega church pastor Rick Warren who founded Saddleback Church with his wife Kay in 1980, told CNN that he hoped to reduce stigma about mental illness after the tragic death of their son. Matthew Warren, who reportedly had a personality disorder, sadly took his own life on April…
What makes aifc different?
Our Christian bible based counselling courses attract men and women from all over Australia. aifc takes a comprehensive and balanced approach to counselling training that integrates psychology, theology and spirituality. Theology helps us know and grow in God’s ways and increases our understanding of our need for Him; psychology an awareness of self and spirituality…
Chemical Dependency & The Power To Change
A powerful quote from Dr. Caroline Leaf, “The brain does not change itself. Our mind changes the brain!” shows that old patterns of thinking have to be put away and new ways have to be learned. People who believe that it’s impossible to change are adding a stumbling block to their own recovery. Without the mindset of hope they will not…
Equipping The Church With Bible Based Counselling Skills
Doctors, social workers and support group leaders will have had to study some sort of professional mental health program as part of their professional training. This mental health training is essential for their professional development to equip them to deal with various types of persons and situations that they might experience. Because church leaders have an influential…
aifc Student Testimonial –Tara Watkins
Tara Watkins tells us why she initially chose to study with aifc, describing how the course has helped to strengthen her marriage and build up her faith. Tara says that she understands herself better now and that the course has had a positive effect on all of her relationships. “Initially what appealed to me about…
Shedding Some Light On Marriage Counselling
A marriage doesn’t necessarily have to be on the rocks for a couple to seek the help of a professional marriage counsellor. These highly skilled trained listeners can help couples face their unresolved issues in a friendly, confidential and non-threatening environment. The bible points out the importance of receiving wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance,…
12 Steps To Making Marriages Go The Distance
Psychologist Harriet Lerner Ph.D. provides her professional advice in an article outlining 12 basic steps that we can take to help our marriages to go the distance. From The Huffington Post. 12 Simple Steps For A Sustainable Marriage 1. Respect Differences. We all view reality through different filters depending on our culture, gender, birth order,…
A Window into Widowhood and Loss (Part 2 of 2)
As a Christian, firstly I turned to Christ and secondly to a counsellor. Let’s look at the issue of counselling first. My husband and I had some counselling in the first few months after his diagnosis. This was mainly focused on our communication skills, as he had shut down and for the first time in…
Biblical Counselling According to David Powlison
In an interview on Psychology Today with Christian Psychologist, David Powlison, Dr Ryan Howes asks him questions about Christian Psychology…. How does your technique or theory differ from mainstream psychotherapy? There are hundreds of variants in mainstream psychotherapy. Since cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is so well known, I’ll offer a broad strokes comparison with the…
Mark McMinn talks about Integrating Christianity & Psychotherapy
In an interview with Ryan Howes Ph.D. Mark McMinn a Professor of Psychology at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon and leading Christian psychologist answers a few questions on Psychology Today about how he integrates faith with psychotherapy. What is the role of religion or spirituality in your clinical practice? I have two responses to…
Trauma Explained
A traumatic event involves a single experience, or an enduring or repeating event or events that completely overwhelm our ability to cope or integrate the ideas and emotions involved with that experience. Think of Computers – Computers and humans are very alike. Computers hold a lot of information and so do we humans. Computers have…
