Pastoral Counseling
PASTORAL COUNSELING
Trinity clergy are not certified and trained professional counselors. They are, of course, willing to listen carefully, offer encouragement and direction, if appropriate, provide spiritual insight and perspective on a given situation, make an assessment of what is needed, and make appropriate referrals to individuals who are certified and trained to respond to certain needs.
By Canon Law, a priest may not meet more than three consecutive times with an individual on the same “clinical” topic before making a referral to the appropriate trained professional.