Has anyone gone to their Minister for successful personal counseling? (churches, priests)

[questioner2]

I hear so many times that one should go to their Priest, Pastor or Minster if you have personal or social problems. In the various churches I have attended I have never thought they would be my first or second choice to help me talk through life's problems. Are they certified in personal counseling in the same way that a social worker or psychologist would be?

Have you known anyone who has gone to their Minister for personal (not spiritual) couseling successfully? Would you?

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by questioner2

I hear so many times that one should go to their Priest, Pastor or Minster if you have personal or social problems. In the various churches I have attended I have never thought they would be my first or second choice to help me talk through life's problems. Are they certified in personal counseling in the same way that a social worker or psychologist would be?

Have you known anyone who has gone to their Minister for personal (not spiritual) couseling successfully? Would you?

For the reasons you mentioned in your post, they are not my choice for personal counseling, I prefer someone with some credentials in the field. Frankly ministers I've known tend to be spiritual specialists and great orators, but maybe don't have such good personal boundaries, and I want someone with good boundaries.

However the friends who I have known who DO go to ministers for personal problems choose to do so because then whatever advice they are given is in line with their beliefs, for instance if it's marital problems or alcoholism, the advice given does not go against their faith, which is important to them.

[dojilynn]

DimSumRaja has explained quite well the motivations behind many Christians in seeking counseling through their ministers. Some pastors/priests are better at this than others. My senior pastor doesn't feel that counseling is one of his strengths, so he delegates it to the Associate Pastor (who happens to be wonderful at it). I think that pastors should know their limitations. Our Associate Pastor will counsel people having minor issues, but has a list of professionals ready to give anyone as a referral if the situation is beyond his expertise. I have personally received counseling with my pastor and it was very helpful. I think sometimes, people just need someone to listen to them. Really, that's all I needed. He listened and he didn't judge. A listening ear will go a long way, and anyone can do it. It's the giving advice part that not everyone is qualified for.