MA in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma
Help Those Suffering from Crisis and Trauma with Liberty’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling
Imagine a career that gives you opportunities to minister to those suffering from the deepest pain. See yourself using biblical truths and tested psychological methods to bring healing in the middle of life’s most challenging situations. Liberty’s Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma can help prepare you to make a lasting impact on people’s lives.
Our degree in counseling can help you assess and respond to people experiencing stress, grief, and trauma. Get ready for ministry in churches, counseling centers, community programs, and hospitals. In all these settings, there are people desperately looking for ways to cope with their grief and pain. Whether your work involves believers, nonbelievers, or both, you can help make an impact on countless lives. Our degree is designed to give you the tools to provide one-on-one attention to spiritually and ethically treat these needs.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
ATS Accredited
Highlights
Highlights of Our Master’s in Pastoral Counseling Degree
Earn Professional Certifications
You can pursue several certificates offered by the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) as part of this program. These certifications include specialized training in Crisis Response, Life Coaching, and Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS). These credentials can help expand your counseling expertise and enhance your professional qualifications.
A World-Class Learning Environment
Standing at 275 feet, the Freedom Tower and its surrounding three-story structure serve as the home of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity and Liberty Theological Seminary. This facility hosts the world’s largest institution dedicated to religious studies and ministry preparation.
Develop Practical Skills
You will have the opportunity to complete a 225-hour internship in a relevant, approved setting to help you gain practical experience. This hands-on opportunity allows you to apply what you are studying in the classroom to real-world situations. It can also help you build skills and connections that support your career goals.
Uncover Unique Resources
As a student in the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, you’ll have access to unique resources, including a rare book collection featuring a 111-foot-long sixteenth-century Torah scroll. You can also explore a working replica of the Gutenberg Printing Press, showcasing how the Bible was first shared with the masses.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with a Crisis Response and Trauma Pastoral Counseling Master’s Degree?
Liberty University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Counseling with a specialization in Crisis Response and Trauma can help prepare you for the following occupations:
- Associate pastor
- Chaplain
- Church counselor
- Non-licensed counselor
- Outpatient care counselor
- Trauma counselor
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Pastoral Counseling Master’s Degree?
Our graduate students studying pastoral counseling will explore the multicultural, family, and spiritual issues often faced in a pastoral setting. You can receive training in solution-based models so you can apply various behavioral approaches and appropriate biblical teaching in your work. You will also examine best practices in promoting spiritual growth during crises and in premarital and marriage circumstances.
By specializing in crisis response and trauma, you can gain a deeper understanding of working with those who are suffering from stress, grief, and traumatic situations. Your courses will highlight ways to treat the human stress response, providing effective counseling strategies for those suffering from anxiety, depression, abuse, PTSD, and much more.
Featured Pastoral Counseling Courses
CRIS 606 – Acute Stress, Grief, and Trauma
CRIS 607 – PTSD and Combat-Related Trauma
PACO 500 – Introduction to Pastoral Counseling
PACO 617 – Theories and Techniques in Pastoral Counseling
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Liberty Theological Seminary
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Accreditation
Your seminary degree is approved by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and has met rigorous accreditation standards. You can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Pastoral Counseling Master’s Degree in Crisis Response and Trauma?
Prepare for the Calling God Has Placed on Your Life
You’re passionate about helping others, and we’re passionate about helping you get there. Liberty’s MA in Pastoral Counseling is designed to help equip you with both spiritual insight and practical skills so you can confidently serve. Our faculty brings over 140 combined years of pastoral counseling experience, and they’re ready to pour that knowledge into your journey
Faculty Who’ve Walked the Path
Our professors aren’t just teachers, they’re seasoned counselors and ministry leaders who understand what it means to walk with people through pain, loss, and restoration. With decades of real-world experience in grief, trauma, and spiritual care, they’re committed to mentoring you as you develop the heart and skill set of an effective, compassionate counselor.
Take Your Training Beyond the Classroom
You won’t just study theory, you’ll apply it. Every student in the MA in Pastoral Counseling program completes a 225-hour internship in an approved setting where you can gain real experience in individual, relationship, and group counseling. Throughout your internship, your professors will be right beside you, offering guidance, support, and feedback on your growth and assignments.
Serve Where Clinical and Spiritual Care Intersect
Pastoral counseling allows you to offer meaningful support in non-clinical settings like churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations. This degree can help prepare you to walk with people through some of life’s hardest moments while sharing truth, offering hope, and helping them navigate their challenges. It’s a powerful way to combine faith, empathy, and wisdom to bring healing to others.
Admissions
How do You Become a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Questionnaire
- Pastoral recommender contact information
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.