Humanistic-Experiential Models in Pastoral Counseling: A Critique

Humanistic-experiential approaches are extremely popular in the training and practice of pastoral counseling. Training programs employing a humanistic-experiential model for training and practice view training as a period for the personal growth of trainees. Students are taught that the need for pastoral counseling reflects a need for personal growth. Critics of humanistic-experiential methods cite the lack of academic rigor and the proliferation of “half-truths” as evidence that a goal of personal growth is neither an effective training model nor an effective pastoral initiative toward people in need of specific help. It is suggested that training centers may best serve by challenging trainees academically and by teaching specific cognitive-behavioral counseling skills rather than focusing upon trainees' personal growth.