Pastoral counseling is a form of psychological counseling that incorporates spirituality into therapeutic treatment. The goal of this type of psychotherapy is to address a variety of underlying psychological needs from a faith-based perspective. The United States has a very large and active pastoral counseling movement, and similar services are offered in many other regions of the world, usually in the context of Christian ministries, although pastoral counselors may be Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, or associated with any number of other religions.
In regions where pastoral counselors are certified by professional or government organizations, they are usually fully ordained religious officials who have also studied psychotherapy. This may require several years of education, with at least three years in seminary and four to eight years becoming professionally certified as therapists. In other areas, the pastoral counselor may lack specific certification and credentialing, in which case their aptitude to practice as a counselor may vary considerably, so it is a good idea to look for persons licensed as counselors when looking for pastoral counselors.
The concept of pastoral counseling is a natural outgrowth of the idea that religious officials should care for their flocks, providing support, advice, and counsel to people in all walks of life. It incorporates deeply held religious beliefs and the latest advances in psychology so that people seeking access to counseling have the benefit of spirituality and psychotherapy in their treatment. Pastoral counselors can provide assistance to people struggling with a variety of psychological issues, such as depression, stress, or crises of faith, and can also offer services to couples and families.
Individuals are generally required to pay for pastoral counseling services, although a sliding fee scale may be used to ensure counseling is accessible to all. Pastoral counselors may also choose to volunteer in places such as schools and at-risk communities to provide needed counseling services. In areas where pastoral counselors are also certified therapists, insurance companies may agree to pay for counseling, assuming mental health services are included in a health insurance plan.
Individuals do not necessarily have to belong to the church with which a pastoral counselor is affiliated. Some people may choose to explore pastoral counseling because they are struggling with spiritual issues that they feel cannot be addressed by a regular counselor, whether or not they belong to a particular church or faith. Others may prefer to find a counselor who shares their religious faith. Pastoral counselors generally will not turn away clients on the basis of faith or church attendance.