On The Road to Pastoral Psychotherapy

Dr. Angelo Subida, M.Div., D.Min. 

Pastoral Psychotherapist, Ordained Minister

"A Pastoral Psychotherapist is an ordained clergy person who also has specialized training similar to other counseling professionals ... There are many Pastoral Psychotherapists in private practice. Pastoral Psychotherapists also serve as institutional Chaplains in prisons, universities, hospitals, and hospice facilities. Pastoral Psychotherapists frequently specialize in marriage and family counseling."

American Association of 

Pastoral Psychotherapists (AAPP)

Psycho - Psuche (Greek) is the only word translated "soul" in the New Testament.  It occurs 105 times, and is rendered "soul" 58 times, "life" 40 times, "mind" 3 times, and "heart," "heartily," "us," and "you" once each
So the root meaning of the English word “Psycho” is soul, life or mind.

Therapy

1.    QERAPEUW – Therapepuo (Greek) - to serve, do service

2.    to heal, cure, restore to health

3.    to serve, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God), or (especially) to relieve (of disease): -- cure, heal, worship.

4.    treatment, which embraces physical and psychological therapies, and usually involves a permanent change of life style.  Metanoia (Greek) the process of experiencing a psychotic "break down" and subsequent, positive psychological re-building or "healing." 

So the root meaning of the word “therapy” is to serve God by healing.

Put the two words together and “psychotherapy” means serving God by healing souls.

This meaning would come as quite a shock to the many agnostics and atheists who, as secular professionals, inappropriately call themselves “psychotherapists.”

 

Romans 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.