Pastoral Psychotherapist

Exam

State exam

Education

Degree

Experience

Experience

Background check

None

<p>Pastoral Psychotherapists are clergy persons with graduate training enabling them to provide psychotherapy, marital, and family therapy. Some also offer group therapy and sex therapy.</p> <p><strong>Legislation:</strong>&nbsp;NH RSA 330-A:17; Administrative Rules Chapter Mhp 100-500</p> <p><strong>Licensure Requirements:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Hold the following educational degrees:</li> <ul> <li>A Baccalaureate from an accredited college or university;</li> <li>A Master of Divinity degree, or an equivalent, from a school of theology accredited by the Association of Theological Schools; and</li> <li>A Doctorate in pastoral psychotherapy</li> </ul> <li>Have attained the level of Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors or an equivalent organization</li> <li>Have been authorized by a denomination or faith group to exercise specific leadership and service on its behalf</li> <li>Have completed one unit of full-time clinical pastoral education or its equivalent</li> <li>Give evidence of serving at least three years as a clergy person, demonstrating growing maturity in one's identity and role as a professional religious leader</li> <li>Complete two years of not less than 1,500 hours per year of supervised experience in pastoral psychotherapy</li> <li>Of the of 3,000 hours specified above, have performed at least 1,375 hours of clinical pastoral counseling while receiving at least 250 hours of interdisciplinary supervision</li> <li>Give evidence of having undergone sufficient theological and psychotherapeutic investigation of one's own intrapsychic and interpersonal processes</li> <li>Give evidence of:</li> <ul> <li>an understanding of the counseling or psychotherapeutic process;</li> <li>an ability to develop the counseling or psychotherapeutic relationship;</li> <li>an ability to perform a leadership role in the context of the religious community; and</li> <li>an ability to integrate one's professional role and personal identity</li> </ul> <li>Pass a