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Board endorses pursuit of statutory clarification distinguishing faith-based counseling from clinical practice
Summary
The board directed staff to draft legislative language to clarify the existing exemptions for faith-based counseling and to define limits that prevent pastoral or faith-based counselors who charge separate fees or operate outside the auspices of a recognized religious organization from appearing to practice as licensed clinicians.
The board authorized staff to pursue legislative amendments to clarify how faith-based or pastoral counseling is distinguished from regulated clinical practice.
Staff said the current practice acts exempt priests, rabbis and ministers who provide counseling "as part of their pastoral or professional duties," but the board has seen consumer complaints when individuals operating outside a religious organization appeared to be providing clinical services while relying on the pastoral exemption. The proposed amendments would focus the exemption on faith-based counseling that meets several criteria: services performed under the auspices of a recognized religious organization; counseling integrated into spiritual ministry and not charged as compensation beyond customary faith-based compensation; no representation that the individual is a licensed clinician; and counseling limited to religious or spiritual guidance rather than diagnosis or treatment of mental health…
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