Pastoral Partnerships
As a pastor or elder, you carry the weight of shepherding your people. Week after week, individuals come to you with struggles ranging from marital conflict to trauma to questions about faith and purpose. While the church is called to care for souls, some situations require both pastoral care and professional counseling. The question is: how do you find Christian counselors who are trustworthy, trauma-informed, and aligned with your values?
Why Partnerships with Licensed Christian Counselors Matters
- Shared responsibility: You don’t have to be the sole support for every crisis. Partnering ensures your congregation receives comprehensive care. Many churches are smaller – approximately 75 people. Meeting the need alone is daunting for any pastor and elder team. Having partnerships helps you steward resources well.
- Whole-person healing: Licensed counselors can provide evidence-based tools while honoring a client’s spiritual life. Trauma-informed biblical counselors can provide deeper discipleship as part of the healing process. Together, pastors and counselors can address both soul and psyche.
- Stronger witness: When your church shows commitment to safe, holistic care, it strengthens your testimony in the community.
What to Look for in a Licensed Christian Counselor
- Clinical Excellence
Look for counselors licensed in your state with training in trauma care (e.g., EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing). These skills matter when congregants face deep wounds like abuse, addiction, or severe anxiety. These modalities do not contradict Scriptures (see this Hey Tabi Podcast episode discussing EMDR). They use the amazing way God created the brain and body to bring deep healing. - Trauma-informed & Confidential
Choose counselors who provide safe, unbiased environments where clients can share without fear of judgment or breach of confidentiality. Pastors can walk alongside, but professional counseling ensures ethical care. Especially when a client has experienced spiritual abuse in their history having outside support can make then feel safer to share their story. - Faith Integration
A solid Christian counselor won’t dismiss the role of faith, nor will they offer simplistic “pray harder” solutions. Instead, they integrate theology and psychology, helping clients explore both their relationship with God and their emotional health. They also stay faithful to Scripture. They take a client’s faith seriously and integrate in ways the client feels comfortable with. - Alignment with Biblical Values
Ask prospective partners about their approach to Scripture, discipleship, and counseling. Healthy partnerships are built on theological clarity and mutual respect. Also, ask if the counselor is comfortable getting releases to share helpful care information to allow the church to provide discipleship and soul care.
How to Start Building Pastoral Partnerships
- Reach out locally: Contact licensed Christian counseling practices in your area. Many offer free consultations for pastors to understand their approach.
- Visit and vet: Review their websites, therapist bios, and specializations. Look for explicit trauma training and faith-based integration. If faith integration is not obvious, ask about it in the consultation. For example, we don’t overly highlight faith because we work with so many abuse survivors who have experienced spiritual abuse. We are gentle in our approach, but it is on our website, just not in flashing lights and letters.
- Start small: Begin by referring one or two congregants to see how the process works. Ask for feedback from those who’ve received care (with their consent). This can help you understand the process and see the healing first hand.
- Develop referral protocols: Work with your elders and staff to create a simple process: when pastoral care is enough, when to co-care, and when to refer out immediately.
When Pastoral Care isn’t Enough
It’s wise to refer out when:
- There is disclosure of abuse or coercive control.
- Someone expresses suicidal thoughts or hopelessness.
- Anxiety, depression, or trauma symptoms prevent daily functioning.
- Marital issues involve infidelity or years of unresolved conflict.
In these cases, your pastoral role continues – prayer, discipleship, accountability – while licensed Christian counselors provide specialized care.
A Vision for the Church
Imagine your church as a trauma-informed community where pastoral partnerships with clinical providers provide the best care and deep healing. Pastors shepherd hearts, counselors bring professional expertise, and together they create a safe place for people to encounter the healing of Christ. That’s the kind of church where hope grows, even in the hardest seasons.
If you want to learn more about creating pastoral partnerships, The Journey and The Process is happy to help. Reach out for your free consultation to see how we can help you serve the body Christ has given you to shepherd.
