FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Pastoral Counseling?
As the mental health and chaplaincy movements grew in the 1940s, many pastors began to use the new approaches to therapy in their own parish counseling. “Pastoral Counseling” initially came to mean “counseling by a pastor” and often has this connotation today. As pastors began formal, intense training in providing therapy, there began a new specialization in doing long-term, in-depth, faith-based therapy, commonly known as “Pastoral Counseling” or “Pastoral Psychotherapy.”
2. What is a North Carolina Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor?
“Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselors” are ordained ministers with specialized education in therapy who work with persons who may have mental illnesses and/or face other serious issues. NC law establishes standards that therapists must meet in order to work as Pastoral Counselors. The NCFBPPC Board of Examiners awards Certificate or Associate status to those who have met the corresponding criteria. “Fee-Based” means that Pastoral Counselors may charge for their services. “Practicing” denotes that they are conducting counseling as a profession. At the Associate level, trainees work under supervision. At the Certificate level, they work on their own and may also file for insurance reimbursement. “Pastoral Counselor” is considered the same as “Pastoral Psychotherapist” under NC law.
3. What is Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counseling?
“Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counseling” focuses through the lens of faith on the relationships one has with oneself, family, friends, coworkers, and the Pastoral Counselor. It is done at specific times, at specific locations, with charges spelled out in advance. Pastors on a church staff may offer counseling to their parishioners as part of their role as pastors, but it is not legal in the state of North Carolina for pastors to charge a fee for counseling their own church members. NCFBPPC have completed the requirements to be certified by the state and charge a fee for their counseling services. Everything discussed in Pastoral Counseling is regarded as confidential. Individuals, couples, families, and groups may participate in Pastoral Counseling.
4. How is Pastoral Counseling different from other forms of counseling?
Pastoral Counseling integrates care for clients’ spiritual well-being as well their mental health, recognizing that the two are intertwined. It looks for long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. It focuses on deeply held beliefs and experiences that influence thinking, feeling, and behavior as well as strategies for managing present and future symptoms. Discussions about faith, theology, spirituality, and ethics are welcomed in Pastoral Counseling.
5. What's the difference between a church staff counselor and a Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor (NCFBPPC)?
Pastors on a church staff may offer counseling to their parishioners as part of their role as pastors. They may legally call themselves Pastoral Counselors, but in North Carolina pastors may not charge a fee for counseling their own church members. NCFBPPC have completed the requirements to be certified by the state and may charge a fee for counseling services. Most pastors do not have the training or the time to conduct long-term, in-depth psychotherapy.
6. What is the difference between Certificate and Associate levels?
The main differences between Certificate and Associate levels are the requirements for hours of clinical work and hours of supervision. In addition, therapists working as NCFBPPC-Associates must be under supervision by an approved supervisor and cannot file for third party reimbursement. Therapists at the Certificate level may file for third party reimbursement.
7. Does the Board of Examiners provide rules and regulations that govern Fee-Based Pastoral Counseling?
The Board acts in accordance with North Carolina law. The role of the Board is to implement the law as established in Article 26 of the General Statutes.
8. Is a Master of Arts degree equivalent to a Master of Divinity degree?
Usually not. Most Master of Arts are 60 hour degree programs. A Master of Divinity is a 90-hour degree program.
9. Will my coursework in school count towards clinical and supervisory hours?
Clinical hours are sessions actually doing counseling; supervisory hours are earned by processing counseling experiences with an approved supervisor. Counseling hours under formal clinical supervision obtained concurrent with a degree program may count towards certification requirements.
10. What is an "approved supervisor?" Do hours of supervision by an LCMHC, LMFT, LCSW supervisor count?
An approved supervisor must be one of the following: A North Carolina Certified Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor, LCMHC, LCMHCS, LMFT, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Medical Doctor with a Medical Board certification in psychiatry, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, or an individual with equal or greater clinical qualifications to one of these professionals that is approved by the Board through written equivalency. See our administrative code governing supervision. Hours of supervision counted for renewal must be accrued with an approved supervisor.
11. How do I find an approved supervisor?
There are several online shortcuts. www.ncpastoralcounseling.org lists persons certified by the Board of Examiners at Certificate and Associate levels. Certificate level therapists may act as supervisors under NC statutes. A NCFBPPC in your geographical area may be able to assist you in locating a supervisor.
12. How much does supervision cost?
It depends on the supervisor. There is no set fee.
13. What is the role of CEUs in the annual renewal process and how do I verify their completion?
CEUs are mandated by Article 26. As counselors participate in CEU events, it is important to get a certificate of completion. If none is available, counselors can verify participation by providing proofs of registration and attendance. 1). A canceled check or credit card receipt showing payment may document registration. 2). Notes taken at the event and/or handouts provided by the presenter, or a letter from the facilitator of the event stating the counselor was there may verify attendance. Information about the date, time, subject, and presenter of the event must be included.
14. Are there interstate or cross state regulations to be aware of regarding Telehealth or tele-therapy?
Many insurance companies have approved tele-therapy reimbursement. Please check with specific insurance companies for reimbursement policies and procedures. The board certification is only valid when the patient receiving treatment is within the geographical borders of NC. In other words, a person can hold the pastoral counseling certification and live anywhere, but they can only legally treat those people who live in NC under this certification. If a counselor wants to treat people in another state, one must be licensed or certified in that state to provide such treatment.
15. Can a certified person provide treatment to someone living in another state?
Yes, only if the laws in that particular state allow it. Certified persons are responsible for researching the laws of the state to which the patient resides before providing treatment to confirm regulations permit therapy.
Revised: October 10, 2020
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Pastoral Counseling?
As the mental health and chaplaincy movements grew in the 1940s, many pastors began to use the new approaches to therapy in their own parish counseling. “Pastoral Counseling” initially came to mean “counseling by a pastor” and often has this connotation today. As pastors began formal, intense training in providing therapy, there began a new specialization in doing long-term, in-depth, faith-based therapy, commonly known as “Pastoral Counseling” or “Pastoral Psychotherapy.”
2. What is a North Carolina Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor?
“Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselors” are ordained ministers with specialized education in therapy who work with persons who may have mental illnesses and/or face other serious issues. NC law establishes standards that therapists must meet in order to work as Pastoral Counselors. The NCFBPPC Board of Examiners awards Certificate or Associate status to those who have met the corresponding criteria. “Fee-Based” means that Pastoral Counselors may charge for their services. “Practicing” denotes that they are conducting counseling as a profession. At the Associate level, trainees work under supervision. At the Certificate level, they work on their own and may also file for insurance reimbursement. “Pastoral Counselor” is considered the same as “Pastoral Psychotherapist” under NC law.
3. What is Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counseling?
“Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counseling” focuses through the lens of faith on the relationships one has with oneself, family, friends, coworkers, and the Pastoral Counselor. It is done at specific times, at specific locations, with charges spelled out in advance. Pastors on a church staff may offer counseling to their parishioners as part of their role as pastors, but it is not legal in the state of North Carolina for pastors to charge a fee for counseling their own church members. NCFBPPC have completed the requirements to be certified by the state and charge a fee for their counseling services. Everything discussed in Pastoral Counseling is regarded as confidential. Individuals, couples, families, and groups may participate in Pastoral Counseling.
4. How is Pastoral Counseling different from other forms of counseling?
Pastoral Counseling integrates care for clients’ spiritual well-being as well their mental health, recognizing that the two are intertwined. It looks for long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. It focuses on deeply held beliefs and experiences that influence thinking, feeling, and behavior as well as strategies for managing present and future symptoms. Discussions about faith, theology, spirituality, and ethics are welcomed in Pastoral Counseling.
5. What's the difference between a church staff counselor and a Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor (NCFBPPC)?
Pastors on a church staff may offer counseling to their parishioners as part of their role as pastors. They may legally call themselves Pastoral Counselors, but in North Carolina pastors may not charge a fee for counseling their own church members. NCFBPPC have completed the requirements to be certified by the state and may charge a fee for counseling services. Most pastors do not have the training or the time to conduct long-term, in-depth psychotherapy.
6. What is the difference between Certificate and Associate levels?
The main differences between Certificate and Associate levels are the requirements for hours of clinical work and hours of supervision. In addition, therapists working as NCFBPPC-Associates must be under supervision by an approved supervisor and cannot file for third party reimbursement. Therapists at the Certificate level may file for third party reimbursement.
7. Does the Board of Examiners provide rules and regulations that govern Fee-Based Pastoral Counseling?
The Board acts in accordance with North Carolina law. The role of the Board is to implement the law as established in Article 26 of the General Statutes.
8. Is a Master of Arts degree equivalent to a Master of Divinity degree?
Usually not. Most Master of Arts are 60 hour degree programs. A Master of Divinity is a 90-hour degree program.
9. Will my coursework in school count towards clinical and supervisory hours?
Clinical hours are sessions actually doing counseling; supervisory hours are earned by processing counseling experiences with an approved supervisor. Counseling hours under formal clinical supervision obtained concurrent with a degree program may count towards certification requirements.
10. What is an "approved supervisor?" Do hours of supervision by an LCMHC, LMFT, LCSW supervisor count?
An approved supervisor must be one of the following: A North Carolina Certified Fee-Based Practicing Pastoral Counselor, LCMHC, LCMHCS, LMFT, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Medical Doctor with a Medical Board certification in psychiatry, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, or an individual with equal or greater clinical qualifications to one of these professionals that is approved by the Board through written equivalency. See our administrative code governing supervision. Hours of supervision counted for renewal must be accrued with an approved supervisor.
11. How do I find an approved supervisor?
There are several online shortcuts. www.ncpastoralcounseling.org lists persons certified by the Board of Examiners at Certificate and Associate levels. Certificate level therapists may act as supervisors under NC statutes. A NCFBPPC in your geographical area may be able to assist you in locating a supervisor.
12. How much does supervision cost?
It depends on the supervisor. There is no set fee.
13. What is the role of CEUs in the annual renewal process and how do I verify their completion?
CEUs are mandated by Article 26. As counselors participate in CEU events, it is important to get a certificate of completion. If none is available, counselors can verify participation by providing proofs of registration and attendance. 1). A canceled check or credit card receipt showing payment may document registration. 2). Notes taken at the event and/or handouts provided by the presenter, or a letter from the facilitator of the event stating the counselor was there may verify attendance. Information about the date, time, subject, and presenter of the event must be included.
14. Are there interstate or cross state regulations to be aware of regarding Telehealth or tele-therapy?
Many insurance companies have approved tele-therapy reimbursement. Please check with specific insurance companies for reimbursement policies and procedures. The board certification is only valid when the patient receiving treatment is within the geographical borders of NC. In other words, a person can hold the pastoral counseling certification and live anywhere, but they can only legally treat those people who live in NC under this certification. If a counselor wants to treat people in another state, one must be licensed or certified in that state to provide such treatment.
15. Can a certified person provide treatment to someone living in another state?
Yes, only if the laws in that particular state allow it. Certified persons are responsible for researching the laws of the state to which the patient resides before providing treatment to confirm regulations permit therapy.
Revised: October 10, 2020