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What Is the Pastoral Counseling and Care Course?
Every pastor, elder, and ministry leader will face moments when someone walks into their office carrying the heaviest burden of their life. Marriages are breaking. Children are struggling. Grief is overwhelming. Addiction is winning. In those moments, your congregation does not need a motivational speech — they need a shepherd who knows how to listen, how to pray, and how to point people back to the Healer. This 6-week course teaches you the biblical foundations and practical skills of pastoral counseling and compassionate care.
Developed by Dr. Layne McDonald from years of pastoral ministry in Memphis, Tennessee, this course blends Scripture, psychology, and real-world experience to prepare you for the counseling conversations that matter most.
What You Will Learn
This course covers the theology of biblical counseling and why it matters, active listening and empathetic communication techniques, how to walk people through grief, loss, and crisis without burning out yourself, setting healthy boundaries as a pastoral caregiver, when to refer to professional therapists and how to build a referral network, preventing compassion fatigue and building emotional resilience, and creating a culture of care within your church or ministry. Each week includes teaching, case studies, roleplay exercises, and a personal reflection component designed to protect your own spiritual health as you serve others.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is designed for pastors, associate pastors, church elders, deacons, small group leaders, lay counselors, and anyone in ministry who regularly provides spiritual care and guidance to others. It is especially valuable for those in the Memphis faith community and beyond who want to strengthen their ability to shepherd people through life's most difficult seasons with wisdom, compassion, and biblical integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this course replace professional counseling certification? No. This course equips you with pastoral care skills and helps you know when and how to refer to licensed professionals. It complements, but does not replace, formal counseling credentials.
I am not a pastor. Is this still relevant for me? Yes. If you lead a small group, serve as a deacon, volunteer on a care team, or simply want to be a better listener and encourager in your faith community, this course will equip you.
Su instructor
Dr. Layne McDonald
Dr. Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is a pastor, filmmaker, author, and dual-doctorate scholar specializing in Communication, Administration, and Leadership. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. McDonald has spent decades mentoring pastors, Christian business leaders, and creatives worldwide. His leadership framework blends biblical truth with emotional intelligence and proven systems for sustainable growth. He is the author of Authentic Christian Pastoral Leadership and Blue Oceans, and leads The McReport — a Christ-centered news platform. Learn more at LayneMcDonald.com.