The Pastoral Counseling Training Program
An Interdenominational Program Leading to Certification
The Pastoral Counseling Training Program was established in 1964 in response to a recognized need by clergy of every denomination for increased counseling skills. About 40% of troubled persons first consult the clergy for help. This Certification Program has been designed to provide working clinical tools essential for effective ministry. Training provides a sound basis for recognizing underlying client psychodynamics, assessing the type and degree of disturbance, focusing counseling goals, formulating interventions, developing effective referral strategies and deepening spiritual roots. Different types of counseling are covered, including work with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families, faced with chronic or crisis situations. Over 90% of the Program’s graduates remain actively engaged in ministry. Their increased skill, energy, effectiveness, enjoyment, and spiritual growth are the measurement of our success.
The Faculty has come to PCMH from diverse fields such as religion, social work, and psychology. All have psychoanalytic certifications. In addition to Fellows and Diplomates of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, these teachers and supervisors represent a variety of clinical and pastoral backgrounds, thus offering candidates the opportunity to learn from professionals with multiple credentials and specializations.
The Doctor of Ministry Degree may be earned in conjunction with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In this cooperative program, candidates attend daytime Pastoral Counseling courses at PCMH and then reassemble at HUC-JIR from 4:30 to 6:30 to take one additional course each semester: The Theology of Pastoral Care, Spiritual Counseling, The Psychodynamics of Sacred Text, and Pastoral Liturgy. A demonstration project in the second year plus three two-day meetings each year round out the main requirements for receiving both the Doctor of Ministry degree from HUC-JIR plus the Certificate in Pastoral Counseling form PCMH. Candidates have been about evenly distributed between men and women, representing a cross-section of the major Western faith groups.