Need for Further Training in Counselling Techniques and Approaches for Pastoral Counselling Providers in the ELCT – CD

The article addresses the need for proper training in counselling techniques and approaches for pastoral counselling providers. The article is the result of field research conducted by the author in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Central Diocese (ELCT – CD). It is problematic that most pastoral counselling providers have received little or no training in pastoral counselling, resulting in inadequate therapy when parishioners seek pastoral counselling in times of crisis. It was learned that there were a significant number of pastors who had no pastoral counselling skills. But also a narrow perception of the ministry of pastoral counselling was noted. The article establishes that pastoral counselling providers have little or are missing proper training and approaches in counselling. There is a need for pastoral counselling providers to have additional training for pastors and seminary students. Pastoral counselling providers are compelled to have the necessary skills because their role compels them to help the people they are serving solve the problems that they go through.

Keywords: Pastoral, Counselling, Techniques, Training, Providers, supervised.