A pastoral counselor offers spiritual and mental health guidance within various faith traditions, applying clinical therapies within the context of religious principles. They can provide counseling for a range of issues and may be employed in various settings, including hospitals and workplaces. The American Association of Pastoral Counselors offers licensure and certification.
A pastoral counselor provides spiritual and mental health guidance within various faith traditions. With training in psychology and theology, a pastoral counselor can apply clinical therapies within the context of religious principles. Whether a Jewish rabbi, Catholic priest, or Protestant minister by faith and theological training or seminary, a pastoral counselor also serves as a mental health professional. Counseling can range from marriage preparation to grief management to substance abuse recovery and can be provided in public or private institutions. When people need help with issues where faith and life events merge, a pastoral counselor can provide the needed comfort and expertise.
It is generally accepted that clergy can serve their respective flocks by knowing and applying religious texts as truth and guidance to congregants who need help. Prayer is also a form of address for those who believe in their power and in a higher power. A trained pastoral counselor, however, serves as a professional when a problem or situation may be beyond what a church or temple leader is trained to address. Internationally, pastoral advice may fall to a leader or missionary with little or no theological training, but with the knowledge of indigenous beliefs and regional superstitions necessary to apply specific advice and healing rituals.
In the United States, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors offers licensure and certification to individuals seeking a profession in pastoral counseling. Training usually includes a bachelor’s degree, a seminar, and a concentrated doctorate or master’s degree in psychology or a related discipline. Personal testing and evaluation by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors completes the certification process.
Settings in which a pastoral counselor may be employed include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, military bases, workplaces, and specific counseling practices. When a patient is near death, a counselor is often called in to spiritually comfort and address the psychological stress of family members. Those who suffer the consequences of acting in conflict with their religious beliefs may seek counseling in the midst of a spiritual crisis.
A pastoral counselor can provide treatment for the individual who commits an act – such as marital abuse or infidelity – as well as the individual who has suffered as a result of the actions. Helping people understand why they are depressed or able to go against their religious beliefs or understand why a believer is suffering can be a typical professional challenge for a pastoral counselor.
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