An Analysis of Pastoral Counseling Supervisors: Their Identities, Roles and Resources

Abstract

Reports on a research project on a population of 900 persons identified as Diplomates and Fellows of AAPC and ACPE Supervisors. Analyzes demographic variables, issues of supervision, professional activities, and supervisor attitudes. Discusses data implications for AAPC and ACPE noting especially the lack of female representation in the organizations, ambivalences in regard to professional identity, and the disparities related to personal psychotherapy as an adjunct to clinical training.

Religious Counseling: A Review of Published Empirical Research

“…Furthermore, there is no empirical evidence that CPE training produces changes in counseling competence. Seaton-Johnson and Everett (1980) and Everett and Seaton-Johnson (1983) surveyed the 900 individuals designated as supervisors of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and the diplomats and fellows of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC). Most supervision involved verbatims (i.e., transcribed excerpts from counseling), which indicates that pastors who receive CPE training at least receive supervised counseling.…”

A Canadian Qualitative Study on Theological Reflection in Pastoral Care and Counseling

“…A number of items are important. First, there is a change since Seaton- Johnson and Everett did their study in 1977and published in 1980and 1983 in The Journal of Pastoral Care. Then, the professional identity of chaplains, pastoral counselors and supervisors was more closely linked to the social sciences, especially psychology.…”

“…In 1980 and 1983, Anthony Wayland Seaton-Johnson and Craig A. Everett challenged the field of pastoral care and counseling in two articles on the identities, roles and resources of clinical pastoral education (CPE) supervisors and pastoral counseling education (PCE) supervisors (Seaton- Johnson & Everett, 1980;Everett & Seaton-Johnson, 1983). These articles were based on a large study conducted in 1977 of all supervisors in the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and the American Association of Pastoral Counseling (AAPC) using a self-report questionnaire.…”