Who We Are…
The Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists
The Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists (TNAPT) was founded in 1995 to be an advocate for a license for pastoral counselors in the state. However, having achieved the goal of a state license, we have shifted to the following three-fold mission. Our association does not credential or certify counselors. We are a professional association that exists for the following purposes:
TNAPT Identity Statement
Professional Holistic Care for Suffering Souls
As the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists (TNAPT), we bring all of who we are—heart, mind, body, and spirit—to care for suffering souls, and we invite those who wish to become more adept in this work to join us. We and our clients are women, men, nonbinary, queer, straight allies, white, and people of color from diverse faith traditions (including none). We have a variety of Board-approved licenses (or are pre-licensed professionals and students). We approach our vocation with three things in focus: clinical pastoral therapy.
Clinical
As clinicians, we bring recognized principles, methods, and procedures from the contemporary psychotherapy community to our work with individuals, couples, families, and groups. We seek to treat the whole person, looking at psychodynamics, interpersonal dynamics, and spiritual dynamics. We are serious about understanding and applying the most appropriate theories and evidence-based modalities in our care for our patients and clients, and we seek to stay informed and on the forward edge of research and practice.
Pastoral
The pastoral aspect of our work draws on our faith communities’ traditions of care and counseling. In Jewish and Christian scriptures, pastoral historically refers to shepherds who cared for the land and its inhabitants. Shepherds addressed the needs of those who were hurting and in danger. They spoke truth to power, named injustice, and worked to relieve suffering, binding and tending the wounds of those in pain. While the pastoral/shepherd image originated in Hebrew scriptures, we believe this identity belongs to all therapists who care for those who suffer, all whose focus is on health of soul.
Therapy
Therapy comes from an ancient Greek word (θεραπεια) that means healing: the goal of clinical pastoral therapy is nothing less. Our methodology is clinical, and our desired outcome is healing and restoration of the human soul and spirit. TNAPT is committed to social justice. We believe wholeness is experienced only when we are interrelated with ourselves, others, community, the earth, and the transcendent. For us, spirituality is not a tool to reduce suffering: it is the path we walk with the clients and patients we serve.
At the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists, we are professionally trained to walk this path with all of who you are. We welcome all who would join us.
Collegiality
TNAPT exists as a collegial support for Pastoral Therapists in the State of Tennessee. We provide opportunities throughout the year for Pastoral Counselors to gather in social gatherings in the three major regions of Tennessee, in continuing education events, and at our annual meeting.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
TNAPT provides continuing education opportunities throughout the year and at our annual meeting to assist Pastoral Therapists and others interested in counseling from a Pastoral perspective to remain effective in their practice and to meet the state’s requirements for continuing education.
ADVOCACY
TNAPT desires to raise the public awareness of Pastoral Counselors as expertly qualified, theologically trained, mental health providers. TNAPT also continues to function as legal and legislative advocate for Pastoral Counseling in the State.
Pastoral Psychotherapy
Pastoral Counseling is a unique mental health discipline that incorporates theological reflection, spiritual resources, and in-depth psychotherapy for health and wholeness. In Tennessee, trained pastoral counselors can be licensed as “Clinical Pastoral Therapists” and those licensed include therapists who are theologically trained or have specialized training in spiritual integration as well as their training in psychotherapy. While Pastoral Therapists were traditionally ministers with specialized training in counseling, our membership now includes others with specialized training in spiritually-integrated psychotherapy, and a client does not need to be affiliated with any particular religion or spiritual practice to benefit from the services of a Pastoral Therapist. Pastoral Therapists are comfortable working with clients of any spiritual background, no spiritual background, or those who have been hurt by their faith tradition. Our members provide a variety of services and treat a variety of issues with individual, couple, and family clients. We also provide consultation to organizations as needed.
Explore the purpose and meaning behind our logo:
Explore the purpose and meaning behind our logo:
Explore the purpose and meaning behind our logo:
Current Leadership…
President – Dr. Ryan Noel Fraser
Vice President – Dr. David Thornton
Secretary – Carolyn Cooper—Murriel
Treasurer – Rev. Burns Rogers
Chaplain/Outreach – Rev. Dr. Carolyn Smith Goings
Membership/Promotions – Rev. Keller Hawkins
Website/Tech – Tyler Nicodem
CPT Licensure Liason — Sherrita Forest