Pastoral Care Specialist Training Program

In times of crisis, the first place many turn to is their local church or faith community. Studies show that 25% of those seeking help for mental illness first turn to a clergyperson. This is higher than the percentage of people who first go to a psychiatrist or medical doctor.*

​The Pastoral Care Specialist (PCS) Training Program is a 48-hour course providing the knowledge and skills pastoral caregivers in churches and faith communities need to help others effectively, ethically, and safely. Issues and topics covered include:
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  • Ethics of Pastoral Care
  • Marriage and Family Issues in Systemic Perspective
  • Spiritual Assessment and Diagnosis 
  • Listening in the Service of Healing 
  • Grief and Loss
  • Mental Health and the Role of the Faith Community
  • Understanding and Responding Effectively to Domestic Violence 
  • Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care
  • Substance Abuse, Addiction, and the Role of the Faith Community 
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The PCS Training program is a new curriculum developed by the Psychotherapy Commission of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Tres Adames has served on the task force since the program's inception and plans to offer a pilot cohort in January 2021. This program is open to pastors, lay leaders, pastoral counselors, and local church leaders. If you are in the Phoenix area and are interested in learning more, fill out the form below:
*Health Services Research (2003):ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360908

    PCS Interest Form