Pastoral Care & Counselling Study Mini-Thesis

1 of 49 | P a g e Advanced Pastoral and Counselling Ministry Research Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Doctorate of Ministry Degree - written in July/August 2022. Psalm 9: 9-10 The lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a place of safety in times of trouble. Those who know you Lord, will trust you, you do not abandon anyone who comes to you.2 of 49 | P a g e Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3 1. Various theories of psychological counselling and how these theories can assist pastoral leaders in understanding psychological dynamics ................................................. 4 2. Foundational counselling and communication skills including active listening, empathic understanding, discerning and referring .............................................................. 5 3. Differences between pastoral care, pastoral counselling and spiritual accompaniment.................................................................................................................................................. 13 4. Biblical perspectives........................................................................................................... 15 5. Restorative and retributive justice and the role of the church ...................................... 16 6. Mental illnesses, develop an integrated conceptual framework that accommodates psychological and theological perspectives on mental illness and psychological health . 18 7. Literature, insights gained from published literature about the pastoral ministry ..... 19 8. Grief, review contemporary models of complicated or traumatic bereavement with a focus toward assessment and intervention .......................................................................... 21 9. Pastoral role,