Pastoral Counselor

Pastoral counselors provide licensed mental health counseling integrating psychology and theology for holistic healing.

With mental health critical and faith integration valued, pastoral counseling generates revenue of $100,000-$350,000 with 75-90% margins through sessions and insurance.

The business requires master's degree in pastoral counseling, state counseling license (LPC, LMHC, LMFT), AAPC (American Association of Pastoral Counselors) certification, CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), and theological and psychological training.

Services include individual psychotherapy with faith integration, couples and marriage counseling, faith and mental health integration, depression, anxiety, and trauma counseling, religious and spiritual struggles, and accepting insurance and EAP.

Revenue through counseling sessions and insurance.

Success factors include graduate degree and state counseling license, AAPC certification and training, integrating theology and psychology expertise, accepting insurance for accessibility, and serving churches, faith-based counseling centers, and private practice.

Marketing focuses on churches, faith communities, physician and clergy referrals, and insurance networks.

With mental health awareness growing and faith integration valued in 2025, pastoral counseling offers therapeutic opportunities serving healing with licensure and faith integration as differentiators.