What is Pastoral Counselling?

What is pastoral counselling?

The term ‘pastoral counselling’ was coined in mid-20th century America when counselling was in its infancy. Initially, it simply meant ‘the counselling done by pastors’ as opposed to any other of the professions offering counselling (such as careers advisers or social workers). In the United States, pastoral counsellors have most often been theologically trained ministers who have also undertaken a qualification in counselling. In Britain, pastoral counsellors are more likely to be lay members of faith communities – most often the Christian faith – who have undertaken a professional counselling training. Pastoral counsellors seek to integrate their counselling practice with the theology and spirituality of their faith community. Pamela Cooper-White (2004:131) describes pastoral counselling in these terms:

Pastoral counselling, or psychotherapy, is defined as a distinctive form of counselling in which the full resources, theoretical knowledge, and clinical methods of secular psychology and psychotherapy are brought together with pastoral theological method and practice to provide a holistic approach to psychotherapy that honors and integrates the spiritual dimension of each patient’s life and experience.

Pastoral counselling seeks to hold open a space between ‘secular’ counselling (where some practitioners can be uncomfortable with religion) and ‘Christian’ counselling (which can be obsessed by it) – a space in which it is possible for psychology and theology, faith and counselling practice to remain in dialogue and for religion to be seen ‘as a source of meaning and a resource for living’ (Lyall, 2001:15).

Pastoral Counselling Resources

Bibliography

Cooper-White, P 2004 Shared Wisdom, Minneapolis, Fortress Press

                              2007 Many Voices, Minneapolis, Fortress Press

Lyall, D  2001 The Integrity of Pastoral Care, London, SPCK

 

Pastoral Counselling

Pebbles, stones and rocks are commonplace in most parts of the world. There are

few people who don’t know what it is like to walk with a pebble in a shoe. Thankfully, stones and rocks are less likely to bother most of our footwear! That

said, the fact remains that most people have burdens of varying degrees to carry on life’s journey. Whether it be similar to a pebble in a shoe or something more burdensome, it always helps to talk.

Pastoral counseling is a therapeutic encounter with a qualified therapist or counselor who also has formal training and certification in theology and spirituality. When we think about our life story we can see that we have habits and patterns of behaviour which make us who we are. We are all made up of physical, cognitive, intuitive, emotional, biological and sexual characteristics. It is how these relate to each other which determines how healthy or unhealthy we are in ourselves. How we are in and with ourselves will determine how we are with each other and in our daily relationships in our work place and community.

Underlying our individual characteristics is our spirituality. Spirituality is that which helps us make sense of our human experience in the world around us. As Christians our lives are graced by the God of Jesus Christ who came into the world so that we all may have life and have it to the full (Jn 10:10). As Christians we know that spirituality is at the core of being human. Spirituality is the deepest part of our being. It is often the shyest part as well. However shy it may be, when authentically recognized it serves to balance and inform positive interaction between our feelings, thoughts, words and deeds. When we are in touch with our deepest selves we are most conscious of who we are and what we are capable of becoming. We are also better able to meet and confront the experiences, events, traumas and assumptions or beliefs which prevent us from becoming all that God dreams for us to become. When we experience loss, whether it be the death of a family member, a relationship breakup, leaving one’s country of origin, loosing one’s job, retiring or some other phase of life issue, it can be very painful and disorientating. Counselling is a means of helping to gain perspective and wellbeing with such turbulent life experiences. Similarly addictive behavior patterns, be it food, alcohol, gambling or other such compulsions can result in ruptured relationships, depression and internal conflict. It is often through our relationships that we realize that the deepest part of one’s being has not been recognized, respected and cared for.  Pastoral counseling helps achieve healthy life functioning first of all by healing how we are with ourselves. To be able to love our neighbour we must first love ourselves and to love ourselves we must care for all those parts which make us uniquely who we are. Caring for ourselves reflects on how we are in our relationships, and how we relate and contribute to our communities and the wider world.

Pastoral Counseling is an agreement between the counselor and person

to meet once weekly for fifty minutes usually over a period of six to eight weeks but this may can be for longer a timeframe depending on the issues and needs of each person.

That pebble in the shoe can sometimes easily be removed while at other times we may need someone to walk with us awhile.

andy hoolan
September 2014