Pastoral care and counseling for international students studying in the USA

Abstract

Educational opportunities in the USA continue to attract thousands of international students from around the world. Their presence represents adjustment and other psychological needs that deserve addressing. The focus of this study is to demonstrate how pastoral care and counseling discipline can respond to the needs represented by the international students in the universities and colleges. I will begin by defining pastoral care and counseling as a discipline and how it is related to practical theology. Historical background of practical theology demonstrates that pastoral care and counseling is a part of practical theology as it is one way in which the Church seeks to meet the needs of humanity in general. Counseling is a tool which the Church can use to bring healing to the congregation as well as to the society. Because international students represent many cultures, the pastoral care and counseling professionals providing service will be dealing with pastoral counseling in a multicultural setting. In the study I will demonstrate that it is critical for the discipline of pastoral care and counseling to include multicultural counseling in training professionals in the field. The study will include discussion on competencies necessary for pastoral care counselors to provide counseling service to international students.