Pastoral Counseling is provided by Pastoral Counselors who are not only mental health professionals but persons who have in-depth religious and theological training. Most pastoral counselors are ordained clergy or persons otherwise endorsed by a religious
faith group.

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Pastoral Counseling has evolved through the years from religious and spiritual counseling to pastoral psychotherapy which integrates theology and the behavioral sciences. Pastoral Counseling has now become a major provider of mental health services
in this country, accounting for over 3 million hours
of treatment annually in both institutional and
private settings.