Pastoral-psychiatric workshops: the St. John's Mental Health Institute.

Abstract

It is conceived that the pastor has important duties of counseling to perform for his parishioners in addition to his service as spiritual leader and advisor. Undoubtedly, this part of his work could be performed better if he could have some of the benefit that the psychiatrist has gained through his experience in treating patients. Particular advantage would come from the judicious use of the technics of interviewing and from the feeling and understanding that result from seeing more clearly the roots of human behavior. If he were so prepared for counseling troubled people, the pastor could give advice on the basis of more adequate information, thus avoiding pitfalls and obtaining positive advantages for the person he advises. The implication of these premises was that a means of communication with an approach to optimal control but without denominational restrictions had to be found. A workshop in a location remote from distracting influences with residency there as a group for nearly a full week was de...