Pastoral counseling
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Pastoral counseling is a branch of counseling in which ordained ministers, rabbis, priests and other non-ordained, lay persons provide therapy services. The therapists integrate modern psychological thought and method with traditional religious training. "Pastoral Counseling" is differentiated from "Pastoral Care", "Christian Counseling", or "Biblical Counseling".
Only six American states license the title "Pastoral Counselor": Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Tennessee; however graduates of counselor education programs may qualify for state licensure as marriage and family therapists or as professional counselors. Currently 49 states and the District of Columbia license professional counselors. Many pastoral counseling programs that prepare students for state licensure gain accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as clinical mental health counseling programs, community counseling programs, or in another specialized area.
Many pastoral counselors will find their professional identity with the American Counseling Association (ACA) and/or in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC). To hold membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, the counselor must have post-graduate studies in both the theology of their own faith community and a second degree at a masters or doctoral level in psychotherapy, as well as 1500 hours of supervised practice. AAPC membership includes Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and many other faith communities.
Legitimate pastoral counseling affirms the client's own spiritual journey and faith community even those these may be different from the counselors. Thus it precludes proselytizing and "evangelical" efforts to induce the client to change faith communities.
In the United States pastoral counselors typically have one or more of the following degrees or credentials: a M.S or M.A. in Pastoral or Professional Counseling, D.Min, D.Th., Th.D., D.D., M.Div, MTS, S.T.D., Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC.), Licensed Pastoral or Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Pastoral Counselor (C.P.C.), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Master of Arts Clinical Christian Counseling (M.A.C.C.C.), Th.M. The pastoral counselor should have clinical training as part of their educational experience.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- American Association of Pastoral Counselors
- US Navy Department of the Chaplain
- [http://www.counseling.org American Counseling Association
- [http://www.cacrep.org The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
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