Discussion post reply Briqn Highberger 687

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Pastoral Counselors and Care

Pastoral counselors have the unique position, opportunity, and responsibility to provide care to care-seekers. Regardless of if these counselors are operating within or outside a church or para-church setting, the care offered by these individuals is significant. This care can take different forms but is aptly described as being pastoral. Hislop (2022) explains that this word, while painting the image of the kind of care shepherds have for their flock, encompasses different caring actions like mentoring, listening, coaching, praying, offering spiritual guidance, and of course biblical counseling. Furthermore, there is an assumption that such care is successfully accomplished through an ongoing and positive relationship (Hislop, 2022).

Limitations: Pastoral Counselors and Licensed Clinicians

When it comes to discerning limitations for pastoral counselors as well as licensed clinicians, it is helpful to reflect on Hawkins and Clintons (2015) core elements of ethical excellence (pp. 64-66). This brief list can be viewed as the essential safety rails for all counselors to understand where their strengths lie and when they should refer. There are five Cs, one each for every core element, and they are as follows: competence (self-awareness of ones knowledge, skill, and relatability), consent (the counselee maintains a level of self-determination throughout the counseling process), consultation (ensuring ones competency remains and goes beyond the tasks through community support), confidentiality (assurance to the care-seeker that their disclosed information will not be shared unless certain circumstances unfold), and contract (a formalized agreement for expectations for the counselor-counselee relationship) (Hawkins and Clinton, 2015, pp. 64-66).

Perhaps the most relevant core element pertaining to pastoral counselors and licensed clinicians and which should provide care is competency. What the counselor has been specifically trained for is critical in this decision. While pastoral counselors will be more familiar with issues of spirituality, the problem of good and evil, salvation, and other biblical topics, licensed clinicians may often have a more robust training in the field of psychology, mental disorders, and other similar subjects.

Referrals and Ongoing Care

As previously discussed, knowing when a required level of care exceeds the ability of pastoral counselors is a necessary skill. This skill can be developed by noting what to look for during either the intake process or throughout the counseling process. Hislop (2020) notes that pastoral counselors should be quick to recognize any new and sudden behavioral changes, severe and significant mental/emotional issues, and noticeable differences/markers in physicality in their clients. Again, the practical consideration presented by Hawkins and Clinton (2015) is for counselors to recognize the limits in their competency in these areas while also being able to identify figures within the community who are qualified in those areas of expertise.

In the case a referral is made, pastoral counselors do not necessarily need to cease being a caregiver for the client. They can still offer their services while once again keeping in mind the core elements of ethical excellence (Hawkins and Clinton, 2015). If the client still desires to meet with the pastoral counselor and understands what the pastoral counselors expertise is and how the relationship will look, then there is no need to terminate the counseling relationship. It is important, however, for the counselor to set clear boundaries in what they will be discussing so that it does not go beyond their capabilities.

Encouragement and Spiritual Development

For female care-seekers, pastoral counselors have the amazing opportunity to encourage them in their spiritual development and self-actualization. A female client may be struggling with establishing a sense of identity as it relates to her walk with the Lord, so pastoral counselors can direct them to a healthy sense of self. One of the key concepts that the counselor should emphasize throughout the counseling process is that the clients identity is not wrapped up in her roles but her relationship with the Lord. Too often women can be led to believe that their value is contingent upon their various roles and how they perform them. This can apply unnecessary pressure for them to aim to be perceived in a certain way. Instead of this sad reality, pastoral counselors can remind them that while roles can be a good thing, they only serve the purpose of being an outlet of sharing their identity in Christ (Bellevue Baptist Church, 2021). This greatly impacts how she may view her spiritual development as it informs what she should prioritize.