What Federal Laws allow and protect Pastoral Counseling?
A. The broad doctrine is from the First Amendment (of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution) and was preceded by Article 6 of the unamended Constitution. (Commonly but not legally called Separation of Church and State). Many Supreme Court decisions, test cases, and State cases have upheld this principle, which is called judicial review. The essence of these statutes and decisions, as applied to Pastoral Counseling, is the intrusion principle, which states that the State has no right to breach confidentiality between a client and spiritual advisor, or regulate the activities of religious practice, including Pastoral Counseling or Care. Some States encourage licensing through AAPCCG and other credentialing organizations, but cannot require it, as long as you are not advertising therapy. This does not mean you cant or wont be challenged, but this is the exact reason many of our grads complete this course: to have a good answer IF challenged by a State, County, City, or competing traditio
