Online Pastoral Counseling Degrees Certification and Education

Online Pastoral Counseling Degrees are in great demand. The effectiveness of spiritual counseling has brought about considerable interest regarding the subject of Christian or Pastoral Counseling. By integrating information from the secular discipline of Psychology with resources from the realm of the Spirit, Pastoral Counselors have become very much in demand because they proven to be effective when dealing with difficult issues such as drug addiction, alcoholism, marriage, sexual abuse. There appears to be little distinction between Christian and Pastoral Counselors, most people appear to use the terms interchangeably

In the past this, what little Christian Counseling education that was taught happened in seminaries. However, most seminaries do not have programs dedicated to the study of Pastoral Counseling. Consequently, to meet the demand to for qualified Pastoral Counselors a number of institutions have risen to meet the needs of those called to this ministry.

Unlike Psychological Counselors, who are held accountable by state governments, Pastoral Counselors are ministers. Pastoral Counselors will typically either become members of an existing church ministry or they may choose to create a ministry of their own. As long as they are suitably educated and licensed, they become accountable primarily to the church rather than the state.

Of course, it is important to check out the laws in your state to be sure of the format your ministry is consistent. There are Christian Law Associations that can assist you in this. Christian Counseling is a legal, legitimate profession in every state, but the exact verbiage used to represent what the counselor does must adhere to each state's statutes.

There are several national bodies that provide education, certification, licensing and oversight for Pastoral Counselors. The oldest and largest of these appears to be the National Christian Counselor's Association (NCCA). There are others such as the American Association of Pastoral Counselors AAPC), and the American Association of Christian Counselors. (AACC) The AACC historically has been a supporting organization for those already involved in the ministry, while the NCCA is more oriented toward training and education.

Pastoral Counseling can be learned entirely on a self-paced schedule. Most course are available in a home study or online format, allowing for them to scheduled for the convenience of the student and do not require classroom attendance.

Christian Counselors have been successful at adopting therapeutic models based on temperament. While some of these models hark back to Greek roots thousands of years ago, the testing methods and results are a modern as an cellular phone. Whether they refer to the temperaments as DISC or Melancholy, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic makes little difference. One of the things that has created much success for Christian Counselors is the availability of powerful assessment tools that enable them to get to the heart of difficult problems and formulate effective treatment plans. Christian Counselors realize that people need answers to their problems, not just hand holding.


What Parents Need to Know About Educational Consultants and College Admissions

High school counselors spend an average of 23 minutes working with their college-bound students on the college search and planning process. Most high school counselors work with more than 350 students. Few high school counselors are able to visit colleges or attend conferences because their schools do not have the budget for them to do so.

Many parents do not feel they have the ability to serve as a guide to college for their teenager. This is a real concern for families. What's a student to do? Many are turning to educational consultants who are helping to fill this gap. They have the expertise to assist college-bound students with the college search and application process. They also have the passion and the time.

Here are nine reasons why an educational consultant could benefit your college-bound student:

1. They are experts in the college admission process and visit colleges and universities extensively every year to determine the unique qualities in each school.

2. They help students with the college search and are not just interested in brand name schools, but want to find colleges that fit your student's academic and personal needs.

3. They do not have an emotional attachment to your child and this allows them to provide unbiased, professional advice.

4. They get to know students on a personal basis which enables them to help students become stronger college applicants.

5. They help provide direction for students on their applications and essays. This assures students that they are adhering to deadlines set by their high school and colleges.

6. They assist students and families in finding schools that are affordable. They also provide information on financial aid and scholarships.

7. They are not limited in the number of hours they can work with students. This allows them to be available when students need them, with the answers they need.

8. They want to help students find colleges that are committed to seeing their students graduate in four years, rather than the usual five, six or more. This can save parents a considerable amount of money.

9. They are members of professional organizations like the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and attend state and national conferences to continue their professional development.

A college education is one of the most expensive investments a family will make. It should be obvious that more time and thought needs to go into the college search and admission process. Most educational consultants charge affordable fees and are very generous with their time. Many families believe that hiring an educational consultant is the best investment they have made.