The Reverend Casey Nicholson (Presbytery of East Tennessee) successfully concluded the oral defense of his dissertation “Approaches to Pastoral Counseling: An Exploration of The Implementation of Secular Methods and Techniques in Pastoral Psychotherapy” on April 21, 2020, and was awarded his doctorate by Memphis Theological Seminary. Congratulations Doctor Nicholson.

Casey graduated as part of the inaugural cohort for the Pastoral Therapy D. Min. track at MTS. The program is designed with options for both those in congregational ministry who are seeking to enrich their practice of pastoral care and counseling, as well as with an option for those who wish to pursue licensure.

Tennessee has a distinct license for religious practitioners who wish to work as full time counselors, the Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist (LCPT) distinction. That licensure is governed by the same state board which licenses Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Counselors.

Casey operates the Spiritual Care and Counseling Service in Greeneville, Tennessee, and will now be pursuing LCPT licensure.