Priest or Psychologist?

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I know someone, a friend, who has had traumatic experiences in their life. Currently they are having problems with in-laws. They said they went to seek guidance from a priest and the priest recommended professional help. My friend did not appreciate the priest’s advice and blames his lack of wisdom on his newbie status as priest. But, from what my friend has shared with me over the time span of several years I said I agreed with the priest. I 100% agree that professional help is necessary. My friend was bothered that I agreed. I sense a strong dislike and/or distrust towards therapists/psychologists even though they’ve never been to one. Then my friend asked what the point of talking to a priest is. I said mainly for spiritual guidance. Was I wrong? Can priests serve as therapists? Should a more experienced priest be sought?
 
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I don’t think you’re wrong. Priests can provide guidance but often they do not have the training/qualifications necessary to act in the manner of a professional psychologist. I believe Priests are primarily for spiritual guidance.
 
The priest may feel the problems required specificaly trained psychologists.
I think he should be trusted to be aware of his limitations.😃

Psychologists have indepth training which prepares them for suck work.
There are people who possibly have a wariness towards mental health or relationship health practise because they may fail to distinuish between psychiatrists and psychologists.

I would be slower to recommend a psychiatrist as I accompanied someone for support of the troubled person for a number of years and perhaps it was the wrong professional, but it just seemed to be about drugs and listening, nothing proactive, with no beneficial outcome to the person I accompanied. However this experience probably gave an unfair perspective regarding psychiatry as a profession.

There are still vestiges of shame within society about going to a pschiatrist, and the person you mention may mistakenly be offended due to confusion of what a psychologist is. It could also be that the person you speak of will need to pay a psychologist, whereas the priest is often expected to require no recompense. Perhaps the person you speak of has financial stresses.
I doubt I’d ever go to either a psychiatrist or psychologist, as I’ve survivor genes, so I usually cope with my own problems, and there’ve been plenty of those.

But there comes a time in many people’s lives when trained professional help can save a relationship, or lead people to healing. The alternative can be shattered families and damaged lives.
 
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It’s not either/or. People can seek the help of a priest for the spiritual aspects of a problem and a psychologist for the mental health aspects.

But yeah, if the priest felt this persons issue was more medical than spiritual, referring them to a psychologist is perfectly appropriate.
 
Lejx11 said:
Can priests serve as therapists?
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Absolutely! A friend of mine (Episcopal priest though) is currently studying for his social work certificate in order to become a licensed therapist.
 
You could suggest that he visit a priest with a degree in psychology.
 
😀😆 I didn’t spot that typo until you pointed it out!
Thanks for the chuckle.
My respect towards hardworking, highly-trained professionals whose job is sometimes wonderfully rewarding but at others, sadly discouraging!

P.S.
If the priest recommended that a psychologist should be consulted, I’d accept that as his spiritually motivated advice and take it.
Is there an American equivalent to Centacare, an Australian catholic counseling service that offers care, and at a lower cost for anyone with financial difficulties?
 
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Fr. Benedict Groeschel was Franciscan Friar, Priest and clinical psychologist.

However, what your friend really needs is…

prayer.
 
There are priests who have had additional training as counselors, those are rarely assigned as parish priests.

Marriage is a Sacrament. One would be wise to seek a priest’s council for trouble with marriage to a point. “Trouble with inlaws” is something that is outside of sacramental theology or a moral issue, so, a therapist would be the best place to go.

When sick, you call both a priest for the sacraments and an ambulance for the medical care.
 
Trishie said:
Is there an American equivalent to Centacare, an Australian catholic counseling service that offers care, and at a lower cost for anyone with financial difficulties?
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Catholic charities will know counselors who have sliding scales. Most communities have a “mental health center” which does sliding scale payments. Insurance also covers mental health care.
 
Keep in mind that even if the person sees a priest who is also a qualified mental health professional, the priest might still need to refer him elsewhere for psych treatment depending on what his problem is, same way as a doctor would refer someone who needed particular help.

The person needs to get over his aversion to mental health care if his problem warrants such care.
 
It depends on the priest I’d say. Who knows if he has been trained in counselling or psychology as many have lived before entering the seminary even if just studying, but it is a great example of humility to be aware of his own limitations and your friend would do well to consider his advice. Though saying that people who have experienced trauma especially at the hands of authority figures or disbelief from them are reluctant to seek help from them even if they are now themselves one. I am on my phone so cannot scroll (vertigo) so apologies if I missed anything I did not read others replies. Sadly it is probably a good idea to try ease you friend into the idea of seeing someone in this respect, perhaps the priest could suggest a catholic counsellor or a trauma group pertaining to their type if that might suit them, or in this country (England) they offer counselling over Skype which might suit as it’s less threatening. Perhaps your friend or you on their behalf could find out about this? God bless
 
You might consider recommending a Catholic psychologist or therapist to your friend. Therapists come in many different shapes and sizes. They have different therapeutic orientations. Some are psychoanalytic (Freudian or Neo-Freudian); others are cognitive-behavioral; still others are humanist-existentialist; some are Buddhist psychologists; and so on. Your friend is entitled to know which type of therapist they are seeing. The therapist should explain, in layman’s terms, how they are planning to treat their patient or client. It is also important to note that therapists have different kinds of training. Those who are clinical psychologists have PhD or PsyD credentials from graduate work in psychology, with an emphasis on clinical psychology. Social workers generally have either MSW or DSW degrees. The former is based on a two-year graduate program. Beware of those who simply call themselves psychotherapists since their professional training may or may not include graduate work in clinical psychology or social work and they may or may not be licensed to practice psychotherapy.

BTW, the term “psychologist” does not automatically mean clinical psychologist. More than half of all psychologists are NOT psychotherapists at all and have nothing to do with therapy. There are many different categories and subcategories of psychologists.
 
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I have gone to my priest for help with things I should have and do see a counselor for. I wasn’t sure and asked. My priest was willing to meet with me, but then I felt stupid for asking and didn’t take it any further. It’s probably not the job of priests to give psychological advice. There’s a different profession for that, I learned the hard way. Lol. But i think they should. Most priests distance themselves from people and wonder why people don’t go to mass. I know we don’t go to mass for the priest but honestly my priest is most of the reason I go to the church I do. Priests are our shepherds they should be close to their flock. But on the other hand I can see why priests don’t get too close to people. They simply can’t. And that’s unfortunate. They don’t want to be alone with people for fear of being accused of something they didn’t do. Also they’ll be moved every so often anyhow so why bother to get close to people you have to leave anyhow ? I don’t know what the answer is. Im just saying why i think things are the way they are. *****There’s no sense in getting all worked up and tell me how wrong I am.
 
Priests aren’t trained therapists. A lot even aren’t trained in spiritual direction (which is unforunate. They should be).

The priest was wise in ensuring he doesn’t make a situation worse. I would recommend you pray for your friend. There’s no talking someone into therapy or forcing it.
 
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