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Full-Text Articles in Religion
Pastors As Gatekeepers: Congregational Encounters With Mental Health And Substance Abuse Issues, Curtis Vanderwaal, Andrea Opei, Edwin I. Hernandez
Pastors As Gatekeepers: Congregational Encounters With Mental Health And Substance Abuse Issues, Curtis Vanderwaal, Andrea Opei, Edwin I. Hernandez
Faculty Publications
The vocation of a pastor is to care for the spiritual needs of a congregation and community. However, as many clergy know well, pastoral care is multifaceted and complex. For example, one of the hats that pastors frequently wear is that of pastoral counselor. Although pastors have traditionally offered support and pastoral care to congregants, they are beginning to spend more hours counseling both congregants and community members. One study indicated that pastors were spending time in pastoral counseling equivalent to that of marriage and family therapists in private practice.1 The same study showed that pastors are encountering persons and …
From The Individual To Individualism: A Critique Of The Helping Professions, Timothy B. Smith, Matthew R. Draper
From The Individual To Individualism: A Critique Of The Helping Professions, Timothy B. Smith, Matthew R. Draper
Faculty Publications
Individualistic values characterize contemporary society and many popular approaches to mental health treatment. This paper critiques the individualistic values embedded in the helping professions that implicitly contradict the teachings ofJesus Christ, the surest foundation for mental health interventions. Members of AMCAP are encouraged to search out and replace problematic values that contradict gospel teachings which have been integrated into contemporary mental health practice.