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Christian Counseling vs. Pastoral Counseling

Both can be a gift. They are trained for different things.

At a Glance

How They Differ

Topic	Licensed Clinician (LCSW) Who Is Christian	Pastor or Church Counselor
Training	Master's degree in clinical social work, supervised hours, state license	Theology and ministry training, varies by church
Focus	Mental health symptoms and skills, integrated with faith	Spiritual formation and shepherding
Legal Duties	Licensing board oversight, HIPAA, mandated reporting	Varies, and clergy rules differ
Cost	Fee or insurance	Usually free to members
Relationship	Professional, with clear limits	You may also see them on Sunday

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Pastoral Care

When Your Pastor Is the Right Call

Spiritual direction and questions about scripture
Prayer and walking through a season with your church
Grief support inside your faith community

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Clinical Care

When a Licensed Clinician Helps

Anxiety, depression, or trauma symptoms that keep interfering with life
Anger or addiction that needs skills and structure
Anything you do not feel able to tell someone in your congregation

Not a Competition

Better Together

Pastoral support and licensed counseling have different roles. Ask each provider about their scope and whether coordination would be appropriate and available in your circumstances. Tatiana also offers staff development and leadership training for ministry teams.