If you’ve ever felt stuck or overwhelmed and also wanted someone who understands your faith, pastoral counseling might be exactly what you need.
The Counseling Center offers a range of counseling services that can help you find the right support for your needs.
In this post, we’ll talk about:
- What pastoral counseling really is
- How it works
- Who can become a pastoral counselor
- How it’s different from regular therapy.
Let’s jump in!
What is pastoral counseling, and what makes it different?
Pastoral counseling is a type of counseling that combines therapy with spiritual care.
You’re not just talking about your feelings or mental health; you’re also exploring how your faith or beliefs play a role in what you’re going through.
Instead of only using clinical methods, a pastoral counselor may talk with you about your relationship with God, your purpose, your values, and your spiritual struggles.
Many people who turn to pastoral counseling already have a religious background or are looking for help that matches their spiritual views.
But even if you don’t follow a specific religion, this kind of care can still offer compassion and meaning.
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How is a pastoral counselor different from other counselors?
All counselors are trained to help people through tough times, but pastoral counselors focus on spirituality.
A pastoral counselor may be a minister, priest, rabbi, or trained religious leader who also has professional counseling skills.
A pastoral counselor helps you work through things while also keeping your faith and values in mind.
They’re especially helpful if you’re dealing with spiritual questions, guilt, grief, or life choices where your beliefs are involved.
Some pastoral counselors are certified or licensed, while others work within churches or religious organizations.
They often have training in both theology and psychology.
How do spirituality and theology play a role in counseling?
One of the biggest differences between pastoral counseling and other kinds of therapy is the focus on spirituality.
If someone is struggling with questions like “Why is this happening to me?” or “Where is God in all this?”, a pastoral counselor is trained to help with those kinds of concerns.
Spirituality isn’t about preaching or pushing a belief.
It’s about helping someone find strength, hope, and meaning. That might involve prayer, scripture, meditation, or just talking about the bigger picture.
Pastoral counseling is grounded in theology, meaning it’s based on an understanding of how faith and human experience connect.
It helps people not only cope with pain but also grow in their spiritual life.
What kinds of problems can pastoral counseling help with?
Pastoral counseling can help with a wide range of issues.
It’s often used for things like grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, marriage and family problems, or addiction.
It can also help during major life changes like illness, divorce, or the death of a loved one.
But what makes it unique is that it also helps with spiritual concerns.
That might include doubts about faith, questions about suffering, or struggles with forgiveness, guilt, or purpose.
Some people seek pastoral counseling for premarital counseling or to deepen their spiritual growth.
In short, if you’re going through something hard and want support that honors your beliefs, pastoral counseling might be just what you need.
Is pastoral counseling right for you?
If you’re someone who values faith and wants support that doesn’t leave your beliefs out of the picture, pastoral counseling could be a great fit.
It’s especially helpful if you’re going through something painful or confusing and want a safe space to talk about it, not just emotionally, but spiritually too.
You don’t have to be super religious.
You just have to want help from someone who understands that faith matters.
For many people, it’s comforting to know they don’t have to choose between therapy and spirituality; they can have both.
Where did pastoral counseling come from?
Pastoral counseling has been around for a while.
Back in the early 1900s, people like Anton Boisen helped start the idea of clinical pastoral education, which meant training chaplains and clergy to work in hospitals and other settings where people needed emotional and spiritual care.
Later on, minister Norman Vincent Peale and psychiatrist Smiley Blanton teamed up to create the Blanton-Peale Institute.
It was one of the first places where religion and psychiatry were blended together.
Their work helped shape what we now call pastoral counseling.
Over time, more organizations came along, like the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), to set standards and provide training.
These days, pastoral counseling is a respected part of the mental health field, especially for those who want their faith to be part of the healing process.
What kind of training does a pastoral counselor need?
To become a pastoral counselor, someone usually needs a master’s degree in pastoral counseling, theology, or clinical mental health counseling.
Many also attend a seminary or a religious school where they study spiritual care, scripture, and how to help people.
On top of that, they often do hands-on clinical training through something called clinical pastoral education (CPE).
This happens in hospitals, counseling centers, or churches where they meet with real people in real situations.
Some go even further and get certified or licensed so they can work as professional counselors.
That might mean completing supervised counseling hours, passing exams, and meeting state requirements for licensure. It’s a lot of work, but it prepares them to support people in meaningful and practical ways.
How do you become a pastoral counselor?
If you’re interested in becoming a pastoral counselor, you’ll usually start by getting a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s degree in something like pastoral counseling, divinity, or clinical mental health counseling. A lot of people go to seminary for this step.
Next, you’ll need hands-on training. That’s where clinical pastoral education (CPE) comes in. It gives you real experience and helps you grow into the role.
Depending on where you live, you might also need to pursue licensure or certification. Some counselors become licensed mental health professionals, while others work within churches or religious organizations without needing a license. Either way, most people need several years of supervised experience before they can work on their own.
What is clinical pastoral education (CPE)?
Clinical pastoral education, or CPE for short, is a special kind of training that gives future pastoral counselors real-world experience. During CPE, students work in places like hospitals, hospices, or prisons and meet with people facing illness, grief, or crisis.
It’s not just about theory, it’s about learning how to care for people when they’re hurting the most.
CPE helps pastoral counselors learn how to listen deeply, stay grounded, and offer support without judgment.
This training is often a requirement for certification and is usually supervised by experienced counselors and chaplains.
It’s one of the most important steps in becoming a compassionate, well-rounded pastoral counselor.
What kinds of jobs can pastoral counselors do?
Pastoral counselors work in lots of places—churches, hospitals, counseling centers, or even in private practice.
Some are chaplains in the military, in hospice care, or in prisons.
Others teach at seminaries or work in nonprofits that help people in need.
Some specialize in areas like marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling, or trauma support.
Others may focus on helping church leaders or people in ministry who are feeling burned out or lost.
Wherever they are, pastoral counselors use their training to care for people with kindness, wisdom, and faith.
Things to remember
- Pastoral counseling combines therapy with faith-based support
- A pastoral counselor helps you heal emotionally and spiritually
- It’s different from other types of counseling because it includes your beliefs
- You don’t need to be religious to benefit from it, but it helps if you’re open to talking about spirituality
- Pastoral counselors are trained in both psychology and theology
- Training includes graduate school, seminary, and clinical experience
- CPE (clinical pastoral education) is a key part of their hands-on training
- They help with grief, anxiety, addiction, marriage issues, and more
- Certification and licensure vary, depending on where and how they work
- It’s a great option for anyone who wants mental health support rooted in faith
If you’d like to learn more about how pastoral counseling or any of our other services can support you, we’re here to help you take the next step.
