AAPC and ACPEThe American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) served for decades as the leading organization in the United States dedicated to the training and certification of pastoral counselors. In 2019, AAPC consolidated with ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education.
This page is intended as a resource for those interested in the history, impact, and code of ethics of AAPC during its years of service. It also highlights the current and existing education programs once offered through AAPC that are now available through ACPE. |
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History of AAPCFounded in 1963, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (or AAPC) was an organization dedicated to the professional development, certification, and support of pastoral counselors in the U.S. Over the decades, AAPC played a crucial role in establishing standards for the specialized training and practice of pastoral counseling.
Pastoral counseling is a form of therapy that integrates both psychological and theological methods in its approach. It's offered by clergy who are trained in mental health or professional counselors who are trained in psycho-spiritual integration. The main goal of pastoral counseling is to provide holistic care, addressing the mind, body, and spirit of individuals seeking help. These counselors often serve in religious settings but also work in clinical and private practice settings and are trained to counsel people from various faith backgrounds (or those with no religious affiliation at all). Throughout its existence, AAPC worked towards promoting the understanding and acceptance of pastoral counseling as a valuable modality for mental and spiritual health. The association also ensured that pastoral counselors were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide competent care that met both clinical and ethical standards. Prism Counseling & Coaching (then known as Arizona Christian Counseling) was formally an Institutional Member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors before the organization consolidated with ACPE (the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education) in 2019. AAPC now exists within the organization as the ACPE Psychotherapy Commission. Rev. Tres Adames (our director) served on the board of the AAPC Pacific Region during this transition and was one of the founding developers of the Spiritual Care Specialist program, originally developed by AAPC, but now offered through ACPE. Rev. Adames also served on the ACPE Psychotherapy Commission in 2020 and 2021.
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A video from 1995 about the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. Hosted by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a leading advocate for mental health.
AAPC Code of EthicsEven though AAPC consolidated with ACPE in 2019, the AAPC Code of Ethics is still utilized and taught in the ACPE Spiritual Care Specialist program. Click the button below to download and read the ethical code. The document is in PDF format.
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Consolidation with ACPE
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education (also known as the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education) is the leading organization in the field of spiritual care and education, renowned for its comprehensive training programs that prepare practitioners to support individuals through spiritual challenges. ACPE's programs focus on developing clinical skills in pastoral care through accredited courses and supervised practical experience, aimed at fostering emotional and spiritual well-being in diverse settings such as hospitals, prisons, and military bases. ACPE is the nation’s leading organization for spiritual care education, setting the highest standards for chaplaincy training in hospitals and clinical settings. For decades, it stood as the only U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), cementing its reputation as the gold standard in spiritual care training.
In 2019, ACPE notably expanded its scope and resources by consolidating with AAPC, an organization that also emphasized pastoral care but with a specific focus on pastoral counseling and spiritually-integrated psychotherapy. This merger enhanced ACPE's capabilities to offer more integrated and comprehensive training options in both clinical pastoral care and professional counseling.
In 2019, ACPE notably expanded its scope and resources by consolidating with AAPC, an organization that also emphasized pastoral care but with a specific focus on pastoral counseling and spiritually-integrated psychotherapy. This merger enhanced ACPE's capabilities to offer more integrated and comprehensive training options in both clinical pastoral care and professional counseling.
Current ACPE Education Programs
For several decades, AAPC provided training and the certification of pastoral counselors. Because of the rise of state-licensing and regulation around counseling and psychotherapy, AAPC ceased it certification program several years before consolidating with ACPE in 2019. However, through the leadership and development of the Psychotherapy Commission, ACPE now offers two continuing education programs for clinical and pastoral professionals:
- The Spiritual Care Specialist (SCS) program for pastors, faith leaders, and spiritual care professionals
- The Spiritually-Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP) program for state-licensed therapists