About Christian Pastoral Counseling
Pastoral Counseling
Pastoral counseling,
a clinical practice that integrates both psychological and theological concepts into its framework, is not unlike other modes of therapy when it comes to the therapeutic process. What sets it apart is the way faith, spirituality, and theology and prayer are incorporated into the model. Pastoral counselors believe this incorporation of spiritual exploration and support can foster wholeness, healing, and growth in those who are seeking help.
Beyond providing mental health counseling, pastoral counselors utilize resources such as prayer, scripture study, and participation in the congregation community to help guide people on their journey toward transcendence, transformation, and greater connection to others. We call this Soul Care at DCM because it is a ministry to the soul of a human being, focussing on healing of emotions, thoughts, relationships, and providing meaning and inspiration for the life journey.
Desert Call Pastoral Counselors
The Rev. Joseph Acton, MDiv. CPC has his certification as a Christian pastoral counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).
The American Association of Christian Counselors, Inc. (AACC) is the largest organization of Christian counselors in the world.[1]
WHO MIGHT CHOOSE PASTORAL COUNSELING?
According to a 1992 Gallup poll, 66% of survey participants reported a preference for a mental health professional who held spiritual beliefs and values, while 81% of people seeking mental health treatment stated a preference for a counselor with values similar to their own. This data may explain why some people seek help from religious leaders or counselors who share their faith. Pastoral counseling may offer benefit to people of all backgrounds, but it may be best suited to those seeking mental health support or guidance grounded in a theological or spiritual perspective.
People might choose pastoral counseling when they:
- Want to approach mental health issues from a faith-based perspective
- Are not comfortable in a formal counseling setting
- Are facing end-of-life issues
- Have concerns that secular counselors will not validate their religious beliefs
- Have had negative experiences with secular mental health professionals
BENEFITS OF PASTORAL COUNSELING
As pastoral counseling can provide specialized treatment to those seeking such but also meet more general counseling needs, it can be considered a versatile mode of therapy. Pastoral counselors are uniquely positioned to offer a professional level of mental health treatment, thanks to graduate training and education, while also providing spiritual guidance from a faith-based perspective.
Pastoral counseling can offer support to those seeking family, relationship, premarital, or individual counseling. More specifically, it may be helpful to individuals working through or challenged by any of the following situations:
Pastoral counselors are uniquely positioned to offer a professional level of mental health treatment, thanks to graduate training and education, while also providing spiritual guidance from a faith-based perspective.
- Spiritual assessment
- Grief and loss
- Issues related to chronic or terminal illness
- Conflicts around spiritual beliefs
- Mental health issues directly linked to religious beliefs or doctrine
- Crises of faith
- Reintegration into community life after institutionalization or incarceration
- Adjusting to mental health support when wary of the system
WHO PROVIDES PASTORAL COUNSELING?
Pastoral counselors can range from ordained religious figures like priests, chaplains, and rabbis to practicing psychotherapists who provide what some call pastoral psychotherapy. They might come from any religious background and can be found in multiple settings—congregations, counseling centers, inpatient programs, and private practice, among others.
Training and education is available for those who wish to practice pastoral counseling in various formats. There are pastoral counselors who are not credentialed that actively provide support to people in need. There are also pastoral counselors who are more affiliated with the religious aspect of their role and have less training in mental health treatment. But a vast majority of pastoral counselors seek certification.
To become certified, prospective counselors must meet the requirements of their religious group, usually ordination, and receive graduate-level training in both theology and psychology, as defined by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Requirements set forth by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors stipulate candidates must earn one of the following graduate degrees:
- Masters in Divinity
- Graduate or Doctoral degree in Biblical Studies, Theological studies, or Spiritual Studies
- Graduate or Doctoral Degree in Pastoral Counseling
Candidates must also complete 375 hours of supervised counseling experience and a self-reflective clinical pastoral education (CPE) experience. The supervised CPE experience is coupled with classroom instruction and discussion to ensure candidates fully integrate their learning in theology and behavioral science. (American Association of Pastoral Counselors)