This unit introduces the field of counselling by examining its historical development, theoretical foundations, and current practice approaches. Counselling in pastoral contexts can be considered a specialised form of soul care in which it is possible to effectively integrate personal theology, spirituality, and counselling theory. The context in which counselling skills may be useful can be quite diverse ranging from church, parachurch, schools, universities, community centres and hospital settings, to name a few. By the end of this course, you will have explored the emergence of counselling in light of Christian faith, been introduced to its practice across the broad offering of therapeutic modalities, and become aware of key ethical considerations within the field.