We believe that a person's sense of the presence or absence of God is an important part of their overall health. Therefore, each person's religious beliefs are taken seriously although there is no attempt to impose personal theology. Our staff is knowledgeable, sensitive, and responsible in this manner. The role of the pastoral counselor is frequently misunderstood. One misconception is that pastoral counselors are specialists who treat clergy.
Pastoral counselors work with all persons.
Another misconception is that pastoral counselors are parish clergy who regularly preach, visit the sick, perform the sacraments, etc. While most pastoral counselors can perform the full acts of ministry, they devote nearly all their time to the practice of psychotherapy with individuals, couples, and families. Professional pastoral counseling is a discipline like other disciplines such as clinical psychology or family medicine. The process is learned in doctoral level study beyond the basic graduate degree in theology or psychology. Pastoral counselors are regulated and recognized by their own professional organization - the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.