CareNet Counseling
| Providing Ministries of Growth, Hope and Healing in the Spirit of Christ |
| 403 South Hawthorne Road ● Winston-Salem, NC 27103 ● 336.716.0800 ● www.carenetcounseling.org |
| Copyright © 2007-2010 CareNet Counseling, Inc. Website Development by WhangDoodles, Inc. |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a pastoral counselor?
Certified pastoral counselors are ordained ministers who have graduated from an
accredited seminary and have three or more additional years of clinical training in
psychological studies, behavioral health skills and crisis intervention. Most pastoral
counselors also receive an additional master's degree during their three or more years
of clinical training. In the CareNet system, pastoral counseling remains our dominant
discipline. We have added other specialists such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists,
marriage and family therapists, substance abuse counselors, adolescent and children's
counselors, and certified clinical social workers to our professional staff. This ensures
an interdisciplinary approach to treating the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. All
CareNet counselors are licensed by their respective mental health discipline.
When should I seek help from a pastoral counselor?
A pastoral counselor is trained in both psychology and theology and thus can address
psychological and spiritual issues. You should consider meeting with a pastoral
counselor if you are experiencing emotional difficulties and wish to address these
matters in the context of religion and spirituality.
How does "pastoral counseling" differ from "counseling"?
Pastoral counseling is very much like the counseling that you would receive from any
other counseling professional (psycotherapist, licensed social worker, psychologist),
except that pastoral counselors also have been trained in issues of spirituality and how
they address their problems, a pastoral counselor can competently facilitate this
process.
Are fees of pastoral counselors comparable to those charged by other
health care professionals?
In general, the fees of pastoral counselors are lower than those of other health care
professionals. This is due to the not-for-profit orientation of pastoral counseling
centers and the willingness of pastoral counselors to work for modest salaries. It is the
prevailing ethic of pastoral counseling that every effort is made to treat everyone,
regardless of ability to pay.
When should a pastor refer a congregant to a pastoral counselor?
Counseling and support are considered an integral part of any pastor's ministry.
However, there are times when the needs of a congregant go beyond offering support
and encouragement to encompass longer-term counseling and psychotherapy. This is
especially important, for instance, when a pastor suspects the problem may be clinical
depression - a debilitating medical illness.
A pastor should refer a congregant to a pastoral counselor when the congregant
desires an integrated religious and psychological approach to treatment, and the
pastor is unable to provide the most effective therapy needed by the individual.
Do pastoral counselors counsel people of faiths different from theirs?
Pastoral counselors are found in every major Protestant denomination, as well as the
Roman Catholic Church and Jewish faith, and they do work with people of faiths
different from their own. However, in practice, clients often prefer to work with a
pastoral counselor who shares their faith and beliefs. In initial meetings, the subject of
faith should be raised to ensure that client and pastoral counselor are comfortable
with each other's perspective.
What type of person becomes a pastoral counselor?
Just like in other counseling professions, there isn't a stereotype of a pastoral
counselor. All pastoral counselors do believe that by integrating psychology and
spirituality into the counseling experience they offer a more holistic approach to
healing.
Do pastoral counselors preach to their clients?
No. Pastoral counselors respect the religious beliefs of their clients
and do not impart their religious convictions to them. Pastoral
counselors help counselees utilize the resources of personal faith
to respond to their presenting situation.
What is a pastoral counselor?
Certified pastoral counselors are ordained ministers who have graduated from an
accredited seminary and have three or more additional years of clinical training in
psychological studies, behavioral health skills and crisis intervention. Most pastoral
counselors also receive an additional master's degree during their three or more years
of clinical training. In the CareNet system, pastoral counseling remains our dominant
discipline. We have added other specialists such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists,
marriage and family therapists, substance abuse counselors, adolescent and children's
counselors, and certified clinical social workers to our professional staff. This ensures
an interdisciplinary approach to treating the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. All
CareNet counselors are licensed by their respective mental health discipline.
When should I seek help from a pastoral counselor?
A pastoral counselor is trained in both psychology and theology and thus can address
psychological and spiritual issues. You should consider meeting with a pastoral
counselor if you are experiencing emotional difficulties and wish to address these
matters in the context of religion and spirituality.
How does "pastoral counseling" differ from "counseling"?
Pastoral counseling is very much like the counseling that you would receive from any
other counseling professional (psycotherapist, licensed social worker, psychologist),
except that pastoral counselors also have been trained in issues of spirituality and how
they address their problems, a pastoral counselor can competently facilitate this
process.
Are fees of pastoral counselors comparable to those charged by other
health care professionals?
In general, the fees of pastoral counselors are lower than those of other health care
professionals. This is due to the not-for-profit orientation of pastoral counseling
centers and the willingness of pastoral counselors to work for modest salaries. It is the
prevailing ethic of pastoral counseling that every effort is made to treat everyone,
regardless of ability to pay.
When should a pastor refer a congregant to a pastoral counselor?
Counseling and support are considered an integral part of any pastor's ministry.
However, there are times when the needs of a congregant go beyond offering support
and encouragement to encompass longer-term counseling and psychotherapy. This is
especially important, for instance, when a pastor suspects the problem may be clinical
depression - a debilitating medical illness.
A pastor should refer a congregant to a pastoral counselor when the congregant
desires an integrated religious and psychological approach to treatment, and the
pastor is unable to provide the most effective therapy needed by the individual.
Do pastoral counselors counsel people of faiths different from theirs?
Pastoral counselors are found in every major Protestant denomination, as well as the
Roman Catholic Church and Jewish faith, and they do work with people of faiths
different from their own. However, in practice, clients often prefer to work with a
pastoral counselor who shares their faith and beliefs. In initial meetings, the subject of
faith should be raised to ensure that client and pastoral counselor are comfortable
with each other's perspective.
What type of person becomes a pastoral counselor?
Just like in other counseling professions, there isn't a stereotype of a pastoral
counselor. All pastoral counselors do believe that by integrating psychology and
spirituality into the counseling experience they offer a more holistic approach to
healing.
Do pastoral counselors preach to their clients?
No. Pastoral counselors respect the religious beliefs of their clients
and do not impart their religious convictions to them. Pastoral
counselors help counselees utilize the resources of personal faith
to respond to their presenting situation.
| CareNet Counseling is nationally accredited by The Samaritan Institute, Denver, CO |
