Technically this is the practice of counseling and psychotherapy by members of the clergy who have been specially trained to do this work. Often, in addition to academic study, they have completed a residency program in a licensed psychiatric clinic, and have had many hundreds of hours of supervision on their work. After going through this rigorous process, they are evaluated and certified by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (APPC).

What is Pastoral Counseling?
Often people ask us what makes us different from other counseling centers, or private therapists. One answer is that we take seriously 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 sometimes mental, but often they are spiritual.

Therapists on our staff are people who are exploring their own spiritual journeys. They are open to that dimension of life whenever a client presents it. At the Counseling Center we help people make sense out of their issues of meaning, values, and belief systems. We care about the whole person.

Communities of faith are the context in which we operate. The setting of the Counseling Center is in a church building.Some members of the staff are pastoral counselors, (clergy people trained in psychotherapy) and a good number of our referrals come from churches and synagogues. We also welcome to our center people who are not connected to organized religion.

A Definition of Pastoral Counseling
(Courtesy of the American Assn of Pastoral Counseling)

Pastoral Counseling is a unique form of psychotherapy which uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth. It is provided by certified pastoral counselors, who are not only mental health professionals but who have also had in-depth religious and/or theological training.

Across the nation, more than 3000 pastoral counselors provide a variety of services including treatment for persons with mental disorders; counseling for adults, adolescents, children, families and couples; substance abuse treatment; wellness programs; religious retreats; spiritual direction; clinical training; consultation to corporations; outreach preventive services in prisons, military settings and schools; and community education.

At any time, individuals, couples or families can be confronted by uncertainties and life experiences which threaten to exhaust emotional and spiritual resources. The loss of a love one, parent-teen conflict, loss of job or the care of an elderly parent are just a few of life's transitions and crises that can be depleting.

While some individuals turn to a psychologist, social worker of psychiatrist, others want support and the opportunity to discuss their problems or illness in a spiritual context.

A 1992 Gallup poll asked 1,000 men and women about the context in which they would seek counseling. 66% said they would prefer to receive counseling from a person who represented their spiritual values. 81% said they wanted their own spiritual values respected and integrated into the counseling process.

Religious communities are one of the principal gateways for individuals seeking assistance with depression, grief, marital conflict, substance abuse, family violence, juvenile delinquency and AIDS, among other issues and societal problems. However, most religious leaders have neither the time of the training in psychotherapy to do extensive, in-depth work. If a situation or crisis requires more than a few informal sessions, it's time to see a certified pastoral counselor.
Our Bronxville location is a convenient place for meeting with clients who live in Westchester County.