Published at Choose Help 4/13
Is a pastoral counselor qualified to handle serious mental illness?
The DSM (the manual which mental health professionals use in diagnoses issues) covers a broad range of mental health conditions, such as:
- Personal concerns (such as relational problems or an occupational problem)
- Less permanent disorders (such as adjustment disorders or oppositional defiant disorder)
- Serious mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)
While it is always important to be careful in the selection of a mental health professional, this is particularly the case when looking for someone to help address a serious mental illness.
Read more: Getting Pastoral Counseling for Serious Mental Illnesses