title: The intellectual foundation of pastoral counseling: a perspective on the future of the profession.
abstract: Reflects on the intellectual nature of pastoral counseling, compares it with certain aspects of contemporary research in psychiatry and clinical psychology, and offers some observations regarding the uniqueness of pastoral counseling as a profession. Argues that pastoral counseling can offer a truly wholistic view of mental health if (1) its intellectual foundation is developed in theological perspective, (2) continues to integrate its theological dimension with clinical psychology and psychiatry, and (3) evaluates its applied research within the framework of the normative standards of mental health.
authors.affiliation: Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, IL 60148, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duffett
mesh_terms: D002604:Chaplaincy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards*; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006302:Health Services Research; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000592:standards*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D014481:United States