Counselors and Counseling

Pastoral Counseling is a unique form of psychotherapy which uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth.

Pastoral counseling moves beyond the support or encouragement a religious community can offer, by providing psychologically sound therapy that weaves in the religious and spiritual dimension.

Pastoral Counselors are certified mental health professionals who have had in-depth theological training. They are endorsed by their respective religious faith group to provide a pastoral counseling ministry.

Ordinarily, a certified pastoral counselor has completed a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s level theological studies, and a graduate degree in applied mental health sciences. In addition, they have a minimum of 1375 hours of clinical experience and 250 hours of supervision.

As a result of this extensive study, pastoral counselors are among the most educated of mental health professionals and possess a depth of training that is significantly more intense.

At any time, individuals, couples, or families can be confronted by uncertainties and life experiences which threaten to exhaust emotional and spiritual resources. The loss of a loved one, parent-teen conflict, loss of job or the care of an elderly parent are just a few of life’s transitions and crises that can be depleting. After a careful assessment of the problem, a pastoral counselor will recommend one or more particular ways of helping—for example. individual counseling or psychotherapy, group therapy, couples counseling, marriage and family therapy, spiritual guidance, or short-term counseling.

A national survey reported “that an overwhelming number of Americans (69%) recognize the close link between spiritual faith, religious values, and mental health, and would prefer to seek assistance from a mental health professional who recognizes and can integrate spiritual values into the course of treatment.” (conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Research Inc. of Washington, D.C.)

If you are seeking a pastoral counselor for yourself, click here for more information on searching for and finding a counselor.