Pastoral Counseling Issues in the helping profession

Pastoral counseling: An overview

Multicultural sensitivities

Pastoral counselors today will inevitably come into contact with persons of widely varying cultural traditions. For example, when counseling someone regarding how to care for an elderly parent with whom the family is now residing, the counselor must be aware that different cultures view the elderly in different ways. For some people, taking care of older parents is considered to be a necessary obligation -- the extended family rather than the nuclear family is prioritized. The counselor will not necessarily alter his advice, but it should be nuanced and informed with cultural awareness.

In other matters, such as dealing with diverse religious groups and matters of sexual orientation, personal desire may seem to come into conflict with scripture. The counselor may state the position of his faith, but still approaches the client with a loving and open mind, rather than reacting in a judgmental fashion. The first ethical principle of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors is that counselors are "respectful of the various theologies, traditions, and values of our faith communities and committed to the dignity and worth of each individual" (Code of Ethics, 2011, AAPC) The first ethical precept of the American Council of Christian Counselors is that: "regardless of how we respond to and challenge harmful attitudes and actions, Christian counselors will express a loving care to any client, service-inquiring person, or anyone encountered in the course of practice or ministry, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual behavior...

Even if Christian counselors do not condone all sexual behaviors, they still affirm the worth of the human person.
A theory of pastoral care

Pastoral counselors, much like any other counselors, are bound to ethics of confidentiality and sensitivity regarding their patients. They must be sensitive to the fact that there is a power imbalance between themselves and the patient, and listen with an open mind and heart, when someone who is vulnerable solicits aid (Code of Ethics, 2011, AAPC). However, in additional to their responsibilities as counselors, they also have a responsibility to the doctrine they advance. "Christian counseling, at its best, is a Spirit-led process of change and growth, geared to help others mature in Christ by the skillful synthesis of counselor-assisted spiritual, psycho-social, familial, bio-medical, and environmental interventions" (Code of Ethics, 2011, AACC).). Christian counseling by definition holds that Christian teachings and the guidance provided by modern psychology are not mutually incompatible, buy can be reconciled.

Sources of pastoral theology

Pastoral counselors draw from both scriptural and secular sources to offer guidance. Most have training in both "religion and behavioral science for a clinical practice that integrates psychological and theological disciplines" (What is pastoral counseling, 1997, Harvard Mental Health Letter). Pastoral counselors may also make therapeutic use of scriptural passages, such as prayer and encouraging the client to take comfort…