Physical Address
Towne Church
3722 Towne Blvd.
Middletown, OH 45005
After turning the age of 21 years old, I believe most birthday milestones are marked with zeros. The age of 25 is a slight milestone for vehicle insurance and vehicle rental purposes. Last year, my 19-year-old son wanted to go on a cruise with his friends. I did not like the idea, and I learned that anyone under the age of 21 needed to be accompanied by a 25-year-old adult. I like that rule because I did not want my son to go on a cruise with his friends. I hope he will have the opportunity, when he is old enough, to leave the country unaccompanied by his parents. The age of 30 was a personal breaking point, literally. Some friends and I decided it would be a great idea to get into paintball. I had a friend who had a farm that would serve as the perfect place to set up for some friendly competition, so we did. We set up blinds, pallets, and barrels throughout the field. There were also some natural barriers, particularly some fallen trees. At the time, I was nearing the end of my service in the Kentucky Army National Guard and had just been issued the latest Army combat uniform (ACU). It was the original version of digital camouflage. My time in the Army of 10 years was about to end, but I wanted to get the most out of my newly issued ACUs. I was proud to enter the battlefield in my ACUs. Sometimes pride comes with overconfidence. In the heat of the battle, finely dressed for combat, I executed a tactical move over a fallen tree while under fire. Although I evaded being marked, the move injured my knee. Although surgery was not required at the time, months of physical therapy were required, and I still have days when I suffer pain from that injury. Throughout my years of service in the Army, thankfully, I never had to go into direct combat. I was deployed a few times, but never under immediate danger. Fortunately, my only ‘frontline warfare’ experience occurred in a field in Eastern Kentucky with some friends loaded with carbon dioxide and balls of paint.
Speaking of the frontline, pastors are on the frontline when it comes to mental health.[1] There are various reasons for this phenomenon. First, clergy generally serve as a counseling means free from financial burden. Professional mental health therapy generally comes with a price that some are not able to pay out-of-pocket or with health insurance benefits. According to Psychology Today, the average cost of mental health therapy ranges between $100 – $200 per hour.[2] Another reason why clergy are on the frontline of mental health is accessibility. Some individuals, particularly in rural areas, do not have access to proper mental health professionals for needed treatment. This issue typically revolves around economic or geographical barriers. Another reason why clergy are sometimes placed on the frontline of mental health treatment is because of trust. In another blog post, I distinguished the issue of general distrust among clergy and mental health professionals. Often, the same stigma exists among clients. Some clients prefer their pastor over mental health professionals because they simply do not trust professionals in ‘white coats’.
With proper training among clergy and providing trusting relationships with Christian therapists, clergy are capable of successfully fulfilling the role of being on the frontline of providing care for those needing mental health treatment. Because of this, pastors can have some advantage and freedom when caring for those who turn to them for aid. First, a pastoral counselor will likely already have an established, trusting relationship with the potential client. This element cannot exist among most therapists to maintain proper ethics in therapy. Professional therapists should not treat persons who may present a conflict of interest or create dual relationships. A pastoral counselor has the freedom to incorporate their Christian faith into counseling. Some professional therapists who are open to integrating spirituality, particularly personal beliefs, into their treatment plans must also allow the client to initiate this integration. Finally, pastors are often well-known in the community and are considered gatekeepers when it comes to spiritual, mental, and physical health.[3] Although spiritual leaders may serve as gatekeepers, the role comes with certain risks. Pastors must understand their boundaries and limitations. If not careful, pastors can become susceptible to transference. Pastors can also overstep the limits of treatment beyond their scope. Treating a person beyond a pastor’s scope can cause serious harm to an individual. Because of this, it is essential for a pastor to develop counseling skills and to develop relationships with trusted, Christian counselors for support and referrals. Lastly, pastors are susceptible to taking on additional workloads that compromise life and family balance. Counseling can be taxing on an individual, their families, and their congregation. If a pastor considers maintaining a gatekeeper role regarding mental health, he or she must be cognizant and realistic about the time they wish to invest in their role.
