Countertransference In Pastoral Counseling

Pastoral Counseling is a wonderful opportunity that pastors have to truly connect with their members on personal issues that may interfering with their relationship with God. The role of pastors in counseling is continuing to grow as many people are looking to pastors to guide them in very hard decisions. Pastors have a major responsibility in leading their congregation, but also in counseling them in biblical ways. Members of the congregation go to the pastor for counseling because they are expecting God to speak through them and they want to hear from God on the issue. To whom much is given much is required though. With great responsibility is also great pressure. Pastors can do a lot of damage if not fully trained or prepared in counseling. …show more content…
Transference is the feeling of the counselee transferring with the counselor any feelings that they brought into the counseling session. In transference a man could come into a counseling session due to a bad marriage and his female counselor is assisting him causing him to start having feelings for her due to what he is missing from his marriage. Countertransference is when the counselor transfers feelings toward the counselee that should be going toward their personal life. In countertransference a counselor may be lacking in their marriage and starts to have feelings for their counselee due to this lack. It is very important for pastor to understand that no one is exempt from countertransference. It has been recognized that many pastors have to leave the church due to issues that have arose due to counseling relationships being inappropriate. Countertransference and transference have caused inappropriate relationships to form during counseling sessions. Pastors need to realize the danger of their position in counseling. Pastors are in a position of power that can cause a relationship with them that is inappropriate with their