Professionalisation is the process by which a group transforms itself into a true profession – that is, a body of qualified persons in an occupation that adheres to certain criteria and the resulting high standards of professional excellence. Being part of an acknowledged profession elevates a practitioner to a higher social status in the community. It also include:

• Being sensitive to the spiritual and faith dimensions of existence;
• Showing respect for religious beliefs and values;
• Shedding light on problems from a Biblical perspective;
• Being sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit in the counselling process; and
• Providing a valuable contribution to the field of mental health care.

Professionalisation is the process by which a group transforms itself into a true profession – that is, a body of qualified persons in an occupation that adheres to certain criteria and the resulting high standards of professional excellence. Being part of an acknowledged profession elevates a practitioner to a higher social status in the community. It also include:

• A certificate that indicates to the public the level of qualification, scope of practice, competencies and skills of a counsellor;
• An ethical code to guide a counselling practice;
• Annual national conferences to keep counsellors abreast of developments in their field; and
• A set of norms for the group that regulates conduct. Experienced affiliates can also assist others to conform to the norms of the group.

The role of the Council for Pastoral and Spiritual Counsellors (CPSC) is to:

• Provide a scope of practice to Christian Pastoral Counsellors.
• Award designations through an evaluation process and register affiliates.
• Issue certificates that indicate to the public the level of qualification, scope of practice, competencies and skills of a Pastoral Counsellor.
• Monitor career path development through Continuing Professional Development.
• Recognition of Prior Learning
• Ethical & Disciplinary Codes
• Rules of Conduct

The objectives of CPSC

The main objectives of CPSC are:

• Guiding the profession and protecting the public;
• Setting and maintaining standards of pastoral and spiritual counselling; and
• Maintaining and enhancing the dignity of the profession.

Other objectives are:

• Aligning the profession with the changing landscape of the South African socio-political needs;
• Providing a scope of practice that makes pastoral and spiritual practice more accessible to all people;
• Moving pastoral and spiritual counselling into contexts where it can serve society in an optimal manner (including hospitals, correctional services, schools, etc);
• Promoting inter-professional liaison and promoting spiritual health and wellness;
• Encouraging study, research and publications on pastoral and spiritual counselling;
• Monitoring Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in pastoral and spiritual counselling; and
• Obtaining statutory recognition of the profession.