No, pastoral counseling has not been helpful to me. In my experience all I got was religious BS and pious cliches and the pastors who counseled me either were not helpful or gave me advice that didn't work. I think most preachers just don't give a shit. Sometimes they've said things that only made me angry at God.

My son gets pastoral counseling once a week and it has helped a lot

I've had a minimum of 5 religious and or pastoral counselors. It did not help me because I felt like I couldn't be truly honest and open about my feelings and life without every other word from them being, god this or that, and jesus died and the bible says...

I'm not completely sure what your definition of "Spiritual" is, as it can mean several different things.

In my 28 years of BiPolar Disorder and monthly Therapy Sessions, I've used a Christian Psychiatrist before, I've seen a Christian Psychologist before. No, I would not use a Church Pastor/Counselor, I don't believe they are qualified to deal with most Mental Illnesses. My Pdoc of the last 10 years is a Christian himself, but he is not a Christian Pdoc, do we talk about Faith and God during Therapy Sessions, yes, quite often.

Good luck finding the right Therapist for you.

In my mind, spiritual counseling wasn't specific to Christianity, but someone who took your beliefs and helped you based on your beliefs. I was viewing it as someone who researches Theology and uses that to spiritually ease people who are looking for someone to understand their beliefs as well as receive help for mental issues.

I agree with you that spiritual counseling does not mean Christian counseling. Because I am a Christian, yes, I have used Christian counselors when I was experiencing depression during a divorce, and yes, they helped.

Your question was how did it help. Without sounding overly zealous, my Christian counselors allowed me a safe place to express my true feelings, listened, reminded me to use the Bible as a guide that showed me I was "loved" even when I felt like I was not, prayed with me, gave me wise, practical advice about how to deal what what was and to move on, and let me cry. I did not have to stuff my depression and say it did not exist and yet they gave me hope. My hope is in Christ, yet I needed others to help me hold onto that hope.

Your question is much deeper, in my eyes. Where is your hope?

If you're interested in chatting more about this I welcome it, but for now I will say that I hold the belief that the stars and the energy of the Universe guide me the way you believe that God guides you and creates opportunities in your life.