African American Pastors and their Perceptions of Professional School Counseling

Abstract:The Black Church and its pastors are important in the African American community, and influence aspects of life including education. There is a gap in the literature concerning professional school counselors’ interaction with African American pastors. This phenomenological study examined experiences of African American pastors regarding professional school counseling, including referral, collaboration, and consultation. Three themes emerged: (a) school counseling experiences, (b) barriers to collaboration, and (c) clergy–school collaboration. School counseling experiences focused on personal and professional experiences. Barriers to collaboration included separation of church and state and lack of visibility. Clergy–school collaboration included outreach and resources. The results of this study suggest that African American pastors are willing to collaborate with professional school counselors to address the needs of African American schoolchildren.