Clinical Issues in presenting in Pastoral Care – 1.5 hours
Parishioners are much more likely to come to you as their pastor or ministry leader in matters of distress or disturbance than turning to a “shrink.” This is all the more likely if treatment for some psychological issues is not equally reimbursed by insurance companies.
Pastors, churches, and faith-based organizations need to be reasonably able to recognize some of the signs and symptoms of clinical issues that may present themselves in the context of pastoral care and counseling. We will discuss the necessity of making appropriate mental health referrals to parishioners with clinical levels of distress and disturbance, as a matter of providing good pastoral care.
Intended Audience: Faith-based leaders.
Learning objectives:
We’ll discuss common clinical issues that present within the context of pastoral care and counseling.
We’ll discuss how some of these clinical issues may seems “benign” or harmless, but actually are quite dangerous. We’ll discuss the symptomatology of these disorders so that ministry leaders can be better equipped to recognize and refer out to appropriate mental health professionals
We’ll discuss appropriate community referrals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health organizations. (Your location is noted in your registration.) We discuss referral presentation as a matter of “expanding the team” for ideal care.
We will discuss immediate risk assessment, and pastoral responses when you may be the first-responder to a mental health crisis
About the instructor:
Melissa Hofstetter, PhD, MDiv is an ordained Mennonite minister, having served as district elder in the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist (CA, PSY25696; AZ #4125). She is the founder of Shepherd Heart. Dr. Hofstetter has been a seminary instructor in Pastoral Counseling & Congregational Health, and served as adjunct professor in the doctoral and undergraduate psychology departments at Azusa Pacific University, teaching courses in Neuroscience, Adult Development, Family Systems, Cognition, General Psychology, Personality.
Disclaimer:
This seminar is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute in any way for consultation with an attorney. Dr. Hofstetter is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice of any kind. This seminar is *not* a psychological service. Appropriate referrals to lawyers or clinicians may be offered. You are expected to keep the identities of parishioners and others confidential. Do not share their identifying information in the course of this seminar. Please note that, as a clergy person residing in California, Dr. Hofstetter is a mandated reporter of suspected abuse and neglect of children, dependent adults, and elders.