What is Pastoral Counseling?
Pastoral Counseling is a confidential meeting of two or more people in which a pastoral counselor
listens as the couselee describes a personal or family life problem while the pastoral counselor
gives empathy, hope, encouragement, prayer and advice based on wisdom from the Bible.
A pastoral counseling session is conducted in a one hour time period. The pastoral counselor
spends that time listening, asking questions and giving advice intended to help the counselee
resolve the challenges they are having. The pastoral counselor uses prayer and scripture to
welcome God's presence into the healing process.
Sometimes on session is all that is needed while other time the pastoral counselor suggests a series
of follow up sessions. Because pastoral counseling is only one part of the overall ministry to
individuals and families at Westside, counselees are encouraged to participate in weekly worship
services, Bible study groups and fellowship at Westside in order to achieve the maximum benefit
from pastoral counseling. |