Valley Pastoral Counseling History

   Personal Reflections on the History of Valley Pastoral Counseling Center........In 1978 a group of Staunton VA clergy, laity, and mental health professionals began to see a need for a pastoral counseling center in the area. Members of the various religious communities, including clergypersons and their families, wanted access to mental health counselors who also understood and were sensitive to their spiritual beliefs. In other words they wanted to talk to pastors who were trained and licensed psychotherapists. The question was: " Is this community need great enough to warrant the creation of a pastoral counseling center?" After a few years of research through community assessment surveys they discovered their answer. It was a clear "Yes!" (More later) #mentalhealth