Law and the Church, Requirement 8

What is the difference between pastoral counseling and other kinds of counseling, and does the law differentiate between these types? What sort of license do you require in your state in order to perform counseling of any type? Does divination fall into this sort of counseling?

The term "pastoral counseling" (as defined by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors) refers to "a process in which a pastoral counselor utilizes insights and principles derived from the disciplines of theology and the behavioral sciences in working with individuals, couples, families, groups and social systems toward the achievement of wholeness and health." This organization also provides a Code of Ethics that I approve of.

The state does not appear to require any sort of pastoral counseling license, nor does the law deal much with counseling in general outside of the legal realm. It should be noted that the giving of legal advice is specifically not allowed unless one has been certified for that.

Divination would be a form of pastoral counseling, but it is also not regulated by the state.

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