Often people ask what makes pastoral counseling different than other therapy. One answer is that we encourage the whole person in our work: body, mind, and spirit. We do not operate only on the medical model of illness and pathology. Sometimes our problems and challenges are physical and often mental, but many times they are spiritual. Pastoral counseling is a unique form of psychotherapy which uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth.

Pastoral Counseling is generally used for both pastoral counseling and pastoral psychotherapy. Technically though there is a difference. Technically speaking pastoral counseling is brief and focuses on an identified issue; “My parent just died,” “I lost my job and need some support,” “I’m thinking about changing jobs,” etc. See similar questions...

Life coaching deals with the present and future. It does not examine the past but instead creates your future. Many of my clients have found the coaching I provide to be therapeutic, but it is not therapy. Counseling and psychotherapy usually deal with problems and healing. It entails working with the past as well as the present. Also, life coaching is not considered a mental health service per se and is therefore not covered by health insurance. See similar questions...

Pastoral Counseling is a specialized form of ministry which integrates the rich resources of theology, faith and behavioral sciences to provide hope and healing of mind, body and spirit. See similar questions...

Counseling and psychotherapy are focused on analyzing or finding the reason behind a problem. Some therapists believe that in order to make life changes, the client must understand why they are behaving in a certain way. Coaching is focused on creating a future based on where the client stands in the present. It concentrates on tracking patterns of language and behavior. Coaches then work with those patterns so that the client can make useful changes in their lives. See similar questions...

counseling session. Pastoral counseling addresses most of the same issues as secular counseling, but there are differences. One main difference is that pastoral counseling is a ministry. Pastoral counselors are representatives of one or more faith communities and as such serves as a channel through with the care of communities is offered to those in need of help. Pastoral counseling’s identity comes out its affiliation with a faith community. See similar questions...

Counseling or psychotherapy is the process where someone seeks help for problems of an emotional nature from a trained professional in a confidential setting. By establishing a positive, trusting relationship, the therapist will work with you to learn how to cope with the problem by learning new skills and/or different ways of looking at situations. In the beginning stage of therapy, your therapist will ask about your concerns and goals to gain a deeper understanding of you. See similar questions...

When the popularity of the pastoral counseling movement increased in the 1960s, the counselors who worked at pastoral counseling agencies were ordained clergy who wanted to take the art of care and counseling one step out of the traditional medical model. Today pastoral counseling centers are multidisciplinary, inter faith groups with skilled counselors including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, as well as pastoral counselors. See similar questions...

Body-centered coaching employs a learning paradigm, which assumes your wholeness and ability to learn how to make your life, relationships and work more easeful and fulfilling right now. The therapy paradigm requires that you first identify a wound or something wrong with you before you can succeed. It often focuses on past events, which can keep you from moving forward with your life. See similar questions...

I do trancework. I am skilled at a variety of trance-based modalities such as Waking Dreams, Focused Trance Thoughtforms, Hypnosis, Guided Imagery, Meditation, Hyperempria, Creative Visualization, Neurolinguistic Programming, Active Imagination, and other approaches. I don't do counselling work per se nor do I do psychotherapy. What I do is more akin to coaching or mentoring utilizing focused trance. See similar questions...

Counseling helps people deal with particular problems in day-to-day living. The counselor works with you to identify problems, to set realistic goals, and to develop skills in problem solving, coping, and interpersonal relations. Psychotherapy is a more intensive process that promotes emotional awareness and psychological development. The process can strengthen one’s sense of confidence, self-acceptance, and responsibility in daily life. See similar questions...

Health insurance companies cause the biggest problems with confidentiality. When you authorize me to bill your health insurance company, you also authorize me to answer their questions, and most managed care companies ask many questions about mental health treatment. What happens to your privacy after the information gets to the insurance company is anybody's guess. Insurance companies routinely share information with each other, and many employers consider health records when hiring. See similar questions...

Most people seek out pastoral counselors because they want someone to respect their individual values and to take a holistic view of life that integrates body, mind and spirit. Pastoral Counselors are certified mental health professionals who have in-depth religious and/or theological training and thus can address psychological and spiritual issues. Pastoral counseling is not a disorder-focused discipline and people do not have to be sick, weak or dysfunctional to receive help. See similar questions...

Pastoral counselors certified by NC and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors must abide by the codes of ethics of those bodies. Confidentiality may be broken only as provided by law. Generally these exceptions include dangerousness to self or others; abuse of children, the elderly, and the disabled; and a court order. See similar questions...

Therapy generally focuses on family-of-origin issues, and can help individuals understand the origins of dysfunction in their life. Negative behaviors, relationships, addictions and/or belief systems are often identified and analyzed to enhance an individual's mental and emotional health. Integral coaching does not generally dwell on family-of-origin issues. See similar questions...