How to Become a Pastoral Counselor
- 1). Earn an undergraduate degree (associates or bachelor) in psychology. In order to counsel people, you will need to know how the mind works, the different theories on personality, and the current treatments for psychological disorders. Also, most seminaries and Bible colleges require you to have an undergraduate degree in order to attend the school.
- 2). Attend a seminary or Bible college in order to earn degrees in the fields of theology and biblical counseling. These courses will help you get a deeper grasp of your faith, as well as help you to interpret all the psychology you've learned through your theological perspective. You will also learn how to treat patients and how to help them both psychologically and spiritually.
- 3). Take a standardized test in order to become a licensed counselor. You will need the license in order to treat any patients. The treatment of a patient without a license is against the law.
- 4). Receive proper training from another pastoral counselor. During this process, you will be allowed to sit in during sessions, take notes and learn how to interview clients and gather information in order to help diagnose the client's problem and find the proper treatment.
- 5). Treat patients and apply for a membership with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. This will help establish your name and gain more clients.
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