So, in my last blog, I sort of jogged around the idea of Pastoral Counseling being an avenue for God to work through the counselor and the client in ways that help both of them grow in faith and in health. I mean for this blog to be a continuation of that, but to highlight…
There’s this notion (I’m not sure how widely it is held, but it exists) that those in the counseling field are in the field initially to learn how to fix themselves, or those in their environment, or perhaps both. And really, I don’t imagine that is too far off the mark, considering the amount of…
Questions people ask about Montessori: Is it that hippie school down the road that lets kids learn whatever they want? Is it possible to teach reading kinesthetically? Don’t they only teach kids how to pour and home economics? Don’t they clump all the grades and ages together? Well, the answer is all of those is essentially,…
Over these past few years, I have spent my time learning more and more about psychological theories, theological concepts, Marian apparitions, Group dynamics and so many other things as I study to become a Pastoral Counselor at Franciscan. I have been blessed to be able to study on this campus where faith and knowledge truly…
As a Pastoral counselor I see the means to supply our exceptional resources to those with various mental health concerns ranging anywhere from bereavement and terminal illness, to spiritual beliefs and more. Qualified and skilled Pastoral counselors can offer a service to those that are in need of counseling on a spiritual level. Whether long…
A couple of weeks ago, we briefly discussed (in response to Benner’s chapters 3 & 4) issues related to the implementation of pastoral counseling—that is, the kinds of practical decisions, approaches, and techniques pastoral counselors might use when meeting with clients. I also asked you to think about resources or counseling practices that you have…
Readings thus far have tried to address the question of “What is pastoral counseling?” As a discipline, pastoral counseling is, in some ways, still in search of an identity. Some writers suggest that all counseling is pastoral because it is aimed at healing; others suggest that pastoral counseling is counseling done by a pastor in…
In many ways, clinical counseling and pastoral counseling have a significant overlap in techniques used and in necessary skills. Lack of active listening, empathy, respect, and authenticity would make any class of counseling ineffective, and perhaps not genuine counseling at all. Pastoral counseling in practice exhibits its uniqueness first in its basis in the identity…
Thinking on the little way recently, because of St. Therese’s feast day Oct 1st! St. Therese is so great- I think she’s a saint that is so reachable and relatable. Her book Story of a Soul is practically a diary of her interior life that reveals so much about her spirituality, but also just how…
What is pastoral counseling? In short, I don’t entirely know. In a way I know exactly what it is because of how pastoral counselors are currently practicing, even what it has been as I have studied the development of it. The real trip up is what will it be tomorrow? What is it always becoming?…