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Pastoral counseling at its best integrates proven theory and methods from the mental health professions with biblical truths and spiritual practices to produce balanced character, behavior, and contentment in the lives of the people served. Melding modern clinical science with ancient biblical truths, pastoral counseling builds from biblical wisdom and Christian spiritual formation into a holistic approach that is oriented toward a bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment and intervention.
Pastoral counseling literally brings the best of both counseling worlds to bear on each client. With the belief that all human behavior has a spiritual component at root, pastoral counselors, whenever appropriate to the client’s interests and therapy, bring the life and teaching of Jesus into the work of counseling. With the client’s consent, pastoral counselors may pray for and with clients, read and refer to Scriptural passages, encourage the practice of forgiveness and the making of amends, and support the practice of spiritual disciplines. When consent does not exist, pastoral counselors may be engaged in these activities silently and implicitly, always functioning in the best interests of their clients.
How does a pastoral counselor differ from any other counselor?
Pastoral counseling, conducted by ordained ministers, is not licensed by the state in which the counselor works, but the state recognizes the need for pastoral counseling both within and outside the church setting and makes legal allowance for such practice. All PCA pastoral counselors are both ordained ministers and professing Christians with advanced degrees who are also licensed and board certified by nationally-recognized Christian boards and associations.
Though pastoral counselors are not licensed or governed by the state, all PCA counselors are bound by the ethical and legal standards of the organizations by which they are licensed and certified. PCA counselors are also clinically-driven, in that they work to accepted treatment plans that include the identification of behavioral definitions, long term treatment goals, short term objectives, and therapeutic interventions. This clinical approach provides the framework within which the psycho-spiritual work can take place with measurable results.
Most importantly, PCA pastoral counselors bring God’s love into every session and strive to come alongside those seeking help--they listen to clients with both heart and mind, respect them, and work to understand their hurts and fears, and to encourage them in faith, hope, and love.
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