Click on the button to learn basic information about pastoral counselors.
Do pastoral counselors treat mental illness?
A pastor counselor is trained to recognize certain illnesses but so that they can refer a patient to a professional trained to treat them. A pastoral counselor is part of a network. They often refer patients to psychologists, psychiatrists, family doctors, dietitians, substance-abuse counselors and even financial counselors. A pastoral counselor does not treat mental illness but often provides spiritual and emotional support to those dealing with difficult transitions in life.
Will health insurance pay for pastoral counseling?
Most health insurance does not pay for pastoral counseling because its purpose is to pay for health-related expenses only. Happiness Ministry operates on donations only. Our counselors are in various parts of the world. A client can discuss donations with the specific counselor they choose. The suggested donation is US$60 but that is only a suggestion.
Is a pastoral counselor a licensed professional counselor(LPC)?
A pastoral counselor and an LPC are not the same – although some people can be both. An LPC is a state-licensed counselor. They are licensed and regulated by various governmental boards and professional associations. Pastoral counselors are credentialed and regulated by religious organizations and may be influenced by professional associations. Pastoral counselors are not licensed by a civil government or authority.
A major difference between a state-licensed and a pastoral counselor is the basic philosophy of the counseling process. State-licensed counselors only interact with their client through the professional setting and are strongly discouraged from interaction outside of that
professional relationship. A pastoral counselor often has a relationship with the person outside the formal counseling setting. The perspective client can determine which best meets their needs.
Another big difference are world views and values. A state-licensed counselor is limited in the degree that they can discuss and direct the client from their own values. Counseling theory, as taught in the behavioral sciences, is to dictate the perspective and advice given. A state-licensed counselor who is Christian is allowed to discuss their values with a client only if they specifically ask. A pastoral counselor will give guidance based on both religious values and behavioral science theories. The methodologies are free to be openly explored. The counselor is expected to counsel from the viewpoint of the religion they are associated with.
What is the difference between a pastoral counselor and a Christian counselor?
The term “pastoral counselor” is a legal term that identifies the type of counseling the counselor provides. The terms “Christian counselor” or “Biblical counselor” can be interchangeable with the term “pastoral counselor” in many cases. However not all pastoral counselors are Christians nor use the Bible. A member of the clergy that belongs to another religion such a Hinduism, Islam or Judaism can also be a pastoral counselor. Thus it is a legal term and does not necessarily mean the counselor is a Bible-believing Christian. All of the counselors at PostumCafe are members of the Seventh-day Adventist church. PostumCafe is operated by Happiness Ministry which is a nonprofit, religious organization in the State of Texas. Happiness Ministry is an independent ministry and not officially associated with the organized Seventh-day Adventist church.
The button below is a link that contrasts the training required for different kinds of specialists.
What type of education does a pastoral counselor have?
State-licensed counselors must meet the requirements of the civil governing authority to maintain their license. That is often the Department of Health with jurisdiction over that geographic area. Pastoral counselors often have equal or even greater educational backgrounds based on the religious organization they are affiliated with. There are multiple levels of competency in both state-licensed and pastoral counselors. Potential clients need to look at the educational and experiential background of any counselor they consider consulting. Knowing the pastoral counselor’s religious beliefs (Adventist, Evangelical, Catholic, Jewish, Islam, etc) is also very important. Here at the Postum Cafe, a background of each counselor is provided for potential clients.
What issues can pastoral counseling help with?
The pastoral counseling available at the Postum Cafe can help with these issues:
- Premarital counseling
- Grief counseling
- Postpartum counseling
- Marriage issues: conflict in the home and/or parenting
- Divorce issues: emotional issues during the process of divorce
- Post-divorce issues: adjusting to a new life
- Step-family and blended family issues
- Co-parenting: working with an ex-spouse to raise children
- Single parenting
- Substance abuse
- 4th and 5th Step work (part of 12-step recovery program)
Who is Ellen G. White and what was her role in Adventism?
Click on the button below for more information.
