Often when we hear of some tragedy, be it large or small, we hear that ‘counsellors’ have gone to help those who are bereaved or traumatized by the disaster. Counselling is big business in the natural world. But counselling is also a very natural and very essential part of the Christian Church and the Christian life. With this argument postulated by McClatchey I launch my objective analysis of the question “Is Pastoral Counselling Necessary Today?” I do concur with the view that counselling is an integral and essential part of the church and Christian life. However to fully answer this question one has to first answer other fundamental questions, such as what is pastoral counselling? What is its aim and purpose? Also one must also observe the nature of pastoral counselling and its impact on the church, the home and wider society. For the purpose of this paper the proposed questions will be keenly examine so as to justly establish whether or not pastoral counselling is of any necessity in today’s society. A definition of the term ‘Pastoral Counselling’ is what be the first stride in looking at this intriguing argument. Pastoral counseling is a form of psychological counseling which incorporates spirituality into therapeutic treatment. The goal of this type of psychotherapy is to address a variety of underlying psychological needs from a faith-based perspective. As one observe this definition it is clear that pastoral counselling seeks to merge psychology and theology to aid in the counselling process. This merger might even be one factor why many Christians, theologians and spiritual individuals might be in objection of pastoral counselling and thus might be tempted to disregard the importance of pastoral counselling in today’s society William Krwan in his book confirms this concern when he purports that The relationship between psychology and theology has become an issue of increasing concern in recent years for the Christian community. I am one of those persons who support the idea of integrating psychology and theology in the healing of hurting persons. In Psychology, theories are used to provide a model for understanding human thoughts, emotions and behaviours. A psychological theory has two key components: (1) it must describe a behaviour and (2) make predictions about future behaviours. It is clear therefore that Psychology in its aim seeks to study, define, and predict human behaviour. Theology also serves to answer man’s existence by through the study of God. It is my conviction that if these to fields are properly merge in the form of pastoral counselling it will serve as a great tool of bringing resolution to many societal and personal conflict and also will serve a therapeutic tool for hurting individuals and a hurting society, especially a Jamaican society that is suffering from so many ills, form a high murder rate to a high rate of various abuse. I believe that Christian counselors (pastors), then, can legitimately utilize the findings of psychology to assist in their counselling of their parishioners whither they be Christian or not. In an age when the world is viewed as a global village and there is an easy access of information and an increase in training of many counsellors and therapist there must be a place for the pastoral counselling ministry, its necessity is beyond a shadow of doubt. Pastor, can I talk with you sometime this week? I need some help." "I am so torn up about what I need to do with my mother. Can you see me this week?" "I lost my job, and I need to talk." "Pastor, my wife told me that she wants a divorce and that she hasn't loved me for a long time. I don't know what to do. Can we get together?" "I think the Lord may be calling me into the ministry, but I'm not, sure. I just need to talk with you." "I've never felt anything like this before. Somebody told me I might be depressed. Can you help me?"As a pastor one may receive numerous requests such as these, many of which result in pastoral counseling sessions. Each story is different, and new dimensions of the original request are discovered once the story unfolds. But what is similar in each instance? Here are people who are hurting and reaching out for help, and they are reaching out to a pastor of a church, implying a recognition that there are spiritual dimensions to their dilemmas. This very fact speaks to the aim and purpose of pastoral counselling which is to provide a spiritual dimension in healing hurting souls, thus bringing full restoration, this also gives pastoral counselling its uniqueness to other forms of counselling. Other forms of counselling may seek to focus may over emphasize the use of psychology, while pastoral counselling seeks to strike a balance between the use of psychology and spirituality as a therapeutic tool through counselling. If this approach to counselling is not necessary in today’s society and I would be lead to believe that necessary as lost its meaning. Is your marriage suffering? Can you and your spouse communicate as a healthy couple during a crises or argument? Are you religious? Has the thought of counseling entered your mind lately? These are the questions Pastoral counselors ask the people who come to see them. These questions bring another important essence of pastoral counselling that makes it not only necessary but essential in a contemporary world. This essence is that pastoral counseling is not doing, but being with. That is it forms relationships as it seeks to heal and restore. This crucial essence of pastoral counselling is purported and supported by David G. Benner Strategic Pastoral Counseling, The essence of…soul care is lost when we view counseling as something mechanical or technical. It is dialogue within relationship. This focus on relationship dialogue that is facilitated by pastoral counselling also contributes to its uniqueness and makes even more an essential and necessary tool in a modern society where there is a deterioration of wholesome human relationships in homes, schools, communities and even churches. Apart from these factors stated thus far that validates the necessity of pastoral counselling, there are yet others. Among these are the facts that the importance of having Pastoral Counselors in the world today is rising. Gone are the days when counseling is just for “the mentally ill.” In spite of lame jokes and a dying, but lingering, stigma sometimes attached to counseling, many individuals and families are seeking professional help to deal with the trauma of life in a world going bad. Why is it so important to have Christian Pastoral counselors among us? Think about it, this world we live in is becoming more accepting of sex, lack of morals, and divorce at the drop of a hat… (Who cares if you brought a child into this world, mom and dad want a divorce because they can’t get along anymore?) Did those couples try to work it out? Did they seek guidance from a counselor who will help them to stay together? Our world is messed up - - BIGTIME! This world is getting further and further away from the Lord. We are accepting of the corruption and easy way out of practically everything these days. Our children are growing up faster and younger than ever before. As they grow they are bombarded with immoral things that seem to becoming the norm of society and even some formal documents supports these eroding of the moral fabric of this modern society, take for example the age of consent in Jamaica. Presently that age is sixteen years old. The pastoral counselling ministry would serve as a moral voice to these and many other issues that seem to be adversely affecting our society. Is pastoral counselling necessary today? A resounding yes echoing as we consider nature, essence and purpose of this discipline. Why is pastoral counselling necessary today? Let’s observe the following points. Pastoral counselors can contribute to making a difference in another marriage lasting 20 years. Pastoral counselors will help in bringing a family torn apart by infidelity and addictions closer together as they weather the storm of a family problem. Pastoral counselors will also use the word of God to help those who are seeking answers within the word to find comfort, or to help comfort others. Pastoral counselling and counselors play so many important roles in so many ways that listing in this paper is not sufficient to accommodate. Pastoral counselling does good, is good and is very much needed today. I don’t think there is an argument against the necessity of pastoral counselling in today’s society, rather the argument I believe lies in how to implement such ministries and the difficulties that will be encounter in doing so. Andre Goding acknowledges this difficulty. This application of clinical psychology to pastoral work is a difficult and demanding task. It is not just a simple transposition that is required but a radical alteration which will call for a great deal of human prudence and spiritual wisdom he contended. Difficulty does not speaks to something been unnecessary, only means that with great effort and persistence the implementation can be realized and the numerous benefits be gained. The absence of sin is a concern that is used to oppose the use of pastoral counselling today. Michael Cavanagh argues this point in his journal Pastoral Psychology under the heading ‘The concept of sin in Pastoral Counselling’. He argues that the concept of sin seems to have virtually disappeared from the pastoral counselling literature, and this likely reflects the possibility that it has virtually disappeared from the practice of pastoral counselling. This argument however is very week as it even goes against the very purpose and nature of pastoral counselling which is restores persons to morality and wholesome relationship with both God and fellow human beings. Furthermore Nouwen makes it profoundly clear in ‘The wounded Healer’ that when the imitation of Christ does not mean to live a life like Christ, but to live your life authentically as Christ lived his, then there are many forms and ways in which a man can be a Christian. Being a Christian and authentic an Christ as is put forward by Nouwen does facilitates pastoral counselling with the leverage to confront, talk against and provide healing for sins quite opposite from what is proposed by Cavanagh. So again pastoral counselling has been proven to be very necessary as it confronts and provide a solution for sin in this modern society. Yet another validating point for the necessity of pastoral counselling to lies in its distinctiveness as a form of psychotherapy. Most if not all pastoral counselors believe there is a God or divine power in whose image we are created. They believe that we yearn for a transforming connection with the divine and that psychotherapy can mediate the loving and healing nature of being itself. Pastoral Counselors believe in a therapeutic role for spiritual values and in a divine being. Pastoral counselors may also make therapeutic use of traditional religious resources such as prayer, Scripture reading, and participation in the worship and community life of a congregation. They often pay special attention to the religious history of the client and the client's family, noting how it may contribute either to the pathology or to the resources needed for coping. False images of the ultimate can distort one's concept of oneself. Characteristics of a client's parents or other childhood authorities may have been projected onto a divine figure. What appears to be the voice of truth in a person's life may actually operate as an idol or false absolute. Mistaken beliefs about oneself, others, and the world may result from participation in an implicit theological drama derived from family history and erroneously supported by religious institutions. Hence again is emphasized the importance of pastoral counselling today. As other form of counselling may and many times even to ignore these factors and rather focuses on psychological theories and reasoning in trying to solve man’s problems. Pastoral counselling on the other hand acknowledges that ultimate healing, restoration and recovery comes from God and not man. A depressed woman who consulted a pastoral counselor felt unable to express her feelings because of a conflict that originated in her childhood. Her mother had often read to her Jesus' saying "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." But whenever she began to cry, the mother would say, "Shut up; go to your room; don't be a crybaby." She believed her scolding mother instead of the Scriptures and continued to do so into her 40's. She repressed not only sadness but most other emotions, choosing a husband who would not tolerate any expression of disappointment or anger. She was eventually able to demythologize her mother as an ultimate authority and exchange her image for that of a loving God.
A minister who sought counseling strove desperately for affection and approval and could not tolerate criticism or anger from any member of his congregation. In therapy he learned that he was the victim of a false idea of God, created in the image of his demanding, perfectionist father - an image he was finally able to dethrone.
These cases illustrate the unique orientation or listening perspective that pastoral counselors may bring to bear. One psychiatrist has called it "clinical theology" - search for a revelation of love, forgiveness, and good news to people who have been in bondage to their feelings and the past. If it is that pastoral counselling accommodates and entails all these positive and therapeutic factors is there any valid reason to question its necessity in this society?
Pastoral Counselling continues to serves its many purpose even in this modern society thus maintaining its relevance and appropriateness for this age. This concept of pastoral counselling springs from another crucial role that the pastor or minister plays, is a pastoral care taker, therefore even the roots of pastoral counselling validates is essentiality. The concept of pastoral counseling is a natural outgrowth of the idea that religious officiants should care for their flocks, providing support, counsel, and advice for people in all walks of life. It incorporates both deeply held religious beliefs and the latest advances in psychology so that people who seek access to counseling have the benefit of spirituality and psychotherapy in their treatment. Pastoral counselors can and do provide assistance to people struggling with a variety of psychological issues, including depression, stress, or crises of faith, and they can also offer services to couples and families. The pastoral counselling process does allow for accommodation of people from all sphere of life as it does not discriminate against anyone. Discrimination is still an issue to be overcome even in these modern times, the society can well learn from pastoral counselling how not to discriminate. For persons to receive pastoral counselling it is true that they need not to be necessarily belonging to the church a pastoral counselor is affiliated with. Some people may opt to explore pastoral counseling because they are struggling with spiritual issues which they feel cannot be addressed by a regular counselor, whether or not they belong to a particular church or faith. Others may prefer to seek a counselor who shares their religious faith. Pastoral counselors will not generally turn clients away on the basis of faith or church attendance. Even after this fact can there still remain questions if pastoral counselling is necessary today?
One of the strongest arguments that can be made to show that pastoral counselling is necessary today is that of its evangelistic possibility. As the church has been commissioned by Christ to go and spread the gospel and make disciples for Him, there is a strong case for pastoral counselling being one of those tools that can take the good news to the world. Pastoral counseling may be seen in the clearer definition of specialized community-based ministry. In that pastoral counseling may be understood as a community-based ministry. Specialized pastoral counseling has been included by the United Methodist Church in a category called "extension ministries." It is an extension of the Christian community into a particular area of life to respond to the needs of persons. Traditionally, the church has extended itself to those not sufficiently motivated to come to the church, and the pastoral counseling center is an excellent example of such an extension. Thousands of persons who go to pastoral counseling centers would not go near a parish church. For thousands of others the pastoral counseling center is an intermediate church structure that can be used as an entryway to a more traditional form of Christian community. In an effort to present the valid case of pastoral counselling as a ministry in the church John Patton proposed that pastoral counselling is one of the functions of Christian ministry. It is not a profession itself, but a legitimate and important part of the profession of the ministry. Presenting pastoral counselling as a outreach ministry of the church makes even more the necessary today.
A very crucial argument that gives even greater value to pastoral counselling is that of its biblical basis. The common way for determining the "biblical basis" for anything is to come up with proof texts where something is done, this is not dissimilar with pastoral counselling. It is important to understand that pastoral counseling in its broadest understanding is simply the emphasis and professionalization of what the church is required to practice on a regular basis. Consider some of these "One Another" passages: Pray for one another (Jms. 5:16).
Be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32) Accept one another (Rom. 15:7) Build up one another (Rom.14:19)Serve one another (Gal. 5:13) Be hospitable to one another (1 Pt. 4:9) Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)Comfort one another (1 Thes. 5:11)
Seek after that which is good for one another (1 Thes. 5:15) Bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2) Be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10) Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14)
Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21) Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb.10:24) Confess your sins to one another (Jms. 5:16) Love one another (Jn. 13:34-35). The bold verses, particularly, relate to behaviors and attitudes regarding pastoral counseling. However, since there are many different schools of thought regarding pastoral counseling, I would not recommend looking for verses that justify or deny pastoral counselling. Rather, I would say that those forms of pastoral counseling that are consistent with God's command to His church regarding building one another up in a loving manner would be good and speaks to the necessity of pastoral counselling today.
In concluding I do re-emphasize my unwavering persuasion that pastoral counselling is necessary today. The opportunity, responsibility and calling to be a shepherd is awesome and ought to be so intimidating that we go to our knees before the Lord, knowing that we cannot do what must be done and be who we need to be without God's help. I firmly believe that in the years ahead, the task of the pastor will grow more difficult because of the needs of the people, the expectations that grow into demands, and the confusion and deterioration of our society. Only by prayer, wisdom and much discipline will pastors be able to carry out their God-given assignment and maintain their spiritual, mental, physical, familial and social health. Pastoral counselling therefore becomes a necessary vehicle through which the pastor can effective reach those whom he ministers to in practical and God directed ways.
Bibliography
Benner G. David, Strategic Pastoral Counseling-A Short-Term Structured Model. Michigan: Baker Book House Grand Rapids, 2003.

Cavanagh E. Michael, Pastoral Psychology Vol. 4 No.2. New York: Human Sciences Press, Inc, 1992.

Godin S.J. Andre, The Pastor as Counselor. Canada: Holt, Rinehart Limited, 1965.

Kirwan T. Williams, Biblical Concepts for Christian Counselling-A case for integrating Psychology and Theology. Michigan: Baker Book House Grand Rapids, 2002.

McClatchey Jim, Pastoral Counselling Principles and Case. Abington Unite Kingdom: Grace Baptist Mission, 2004.

Nouwen J.M. Henri, The Wounded Healer. New York: Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc, 1990.

Patton John, Pastoral Psychology Vol. 29 No. 3. New York: Human Sciences Press, Inc, 1981.

Santrock W. John, Life-Span Development Ninth Edition. New York: Mcgrawth Companies In., 2004.
Internet:
Merle R. Jordon, Albert V. Daielsen, What is Pastoral Counselling? Powered By: Professional Pastoral-Counseling Institute, 1997. Database On-line. Available from http://www.pastoralcounseling.org/Definition1.htm Accessed May 7, 2012.
Smith S.E. What is Pastoral Counselling? Powered By: Wise Geek, Conjecture Corporation, 2003-2012. Database On-line Available from

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-pastoral-counseling.htm. Accessed May 7, 2012.