pastoral counseling
a form of counseling or psychotherapy in which insights and principles derived from theology and the behavioral sciences are used to help individuals, couples, families, and groups achieve healing and growth. Pastoral counseling is centered in theory and research on the interaction of religion and science, spirituality and health, and spiritual direction and psychotherapy. A pastoral counselor receives advanced training in one or several of the behavioral sciences (often psychology specifically) in addition to religious training, theological training, or both. Also called pastoral psychotherapy.