“how to establish pastoral counseling for a church without any established format” Pastoral counseling is a wonderful psychiatric therapy that allows these doctors heal certain mental health issues including bereavement and coping with terminal illness. Church ministers have been counseling members of their congregations since ancient times. I would also want to draw your attention to the fact that many psychiatrists may not be aware of the skills and services offered by pastoral counselors. In the following essay I am going to speak on the ways of how to establish pastoral counseling for virtually any church. I will present various educated findings as well as point out my personal opinion and attitude on the given matter. Pastoral counselors usually work in pastoral counseling centers, but also they can be found in inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, and in private practice (Breen, 12).
People around the world generally seek therapy from a pastoral counselor because of their connection with a particular faith, whether Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, or any others.
The other thing I would like to note is that pastoral counselors who possess the training and expertise in both a religious tradition and the human psychology and psychotherapy as a matter of fact challenge rigid, defensive, or extremist religious faulty beliefs and mental problems that might contribute to a patients psychological sickness. Prior to forming the pastoral counseling for the church one has to be aware of what pastoral counseling does and what goals it pursues (Crum, 34).
The Dissertation on Pastoral Counseling Reflection Paper
Abstract In this paper the student-author sets out her experience with pastoral counseling, current needs, expectations of the course, and describes her approach to pastoral counseling. This student author completed a Master’s Degree in Theology at Liberty University in order to fulfill the role of Assistant Pastor at the Christian Community Church, in Georgia, but has no formal or informal ...
The main goal of pastoral counseling is to guide individuals who are facing various psychological or mental challenges towards greater wholeness within themselves and in their relationships with God and other people. Please refer to the given six goals that need to be used for pastoral counseling. revitalizing the patients mind. invigorating the human body and soul. revamping and fortifying intimate relationships increasing ones relationships with nature and the biosphere growth in relation to significant institutions increasing ones personal relationship with God.
These elements are especially useful to know considering the establishment of the pastoral counseling in a given church (Breen, 15).
What is seen from these elements is the fact that pastoral counseling is independent from the churchs denomination and does not belong to only one religion, making it possible to implement at any church (Kinney, 56).
Time-wise pastoral counseling focuses on both short-term (problem) and long-term (conflicts) effects. This is required for the purpose of curing the person who might require the long-term relationship with the therapist (Crum, 40).
When installing the pastoral counseling in ones church, one needs to know that it is predominantly insight-oriented and stressing the power of god (Crum, 41).
In order for the person to qualify for pastoral counselor, they have to be proficient with these types of human therapies: Patients own potential, which is seen in the Gestalt therapy or transactional analysis. Relational, which promotes the fortification of the relationships between the pastor and the patient (parishioner).
Behavioral, which promotes the strategies put forth by Watson and Skinner and focuses on the inner side of the human motivation. Personal spiritual growth (e.g., based on theories and practices of Carl Jung).
The Essay on Mental Health Counseling Counselors Issues Web
Mental health counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health. They are trained to address a wide range of issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, ...
Speaking about the practical matters regarding the pastoral counseling I would like to note that pastors of any religious congregation can function as pastoral counselors. The church clergy generally do not counsel outside their parishes, although they may do so even if they lack training beyond formal seminary (Breen, 18).
Thus, any church clergy can develop excellent skills in counseling and psychotherapy through mentorship, self-directed study, and their own psychotherapy through competent pastoral counselors. In order to formally provide reasonable assurance of quality pastoral counseling I would like to note that certification by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) is a way to do so. It should be noted that most pastoral counselors who practice in mental health agencies have obtained AAPC certification.
The AAPC accredits pastoral counseling centers, approves training programs, determines credentialing criteria, and ascertains whether an individual has met educational and experiential requirements. In order for a person to get certification, he/she needs to have a theology-based masters or doctoral degree or a comparable degree in pastoral counseling. Another AAPC member teaches the newcomers pastoral counseling experience (Crum, 44).
In conclusion I would like to say that pastoral counseling is a wonderful psychotherapy that can provide the parishioners and clients with reasonable mental support and stress-relief. The person technically does not require any formal certification to work as a pastoral counselor, yet the majority of the existing counselors obtained their AAPC prior to working as pastoral counselors.
Bibliography:
Breen, Thomas, The pastoral counseling, McGraw Hill, 2002.
Crum, Richard, The alternative psychological treatment, Harvard psychological review. 2001. vol. 12-32a. Johnson, Alex, Psychology of religious healing, UCLA psychology department Press, 2002, vol. 234-89.
Kinney, Andrew, Pastoral counseling in the USA, Prentice Hall, 2001. Brown, Peter, psychological therapies, NY Random House, 2001..
