Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute (PPI) is an interfaith counseling and psychotherapy center that integrates into the counseling process both the behavioral sciences and the resources of a client’s particular religious faith. PPI has served the greater Pittsburgh area since 1964.

PPI’s services include:

• Counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Psychiatric consultation.
• Career assessment and counseling.
• Consultation for clergy who are dealing with difficult problems in their congregations.
• Continuing education for mental health professionals and clergy.
• Community education on practical topics related to mental and spiritual health.

The counseling staff includes licensed psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, certified pastoral counselors, and consulting psychiatrists.

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PPI’s general approach to counseling and psychotherapy:

While every counseling experience is unique, PPI’s overall approach seeks to provide an empathic relationship in which clients can safely, freely, and confidentially discuss their problems and concerns. The main goal is for client and therapist to work together to resolve them as far as possible, along with promoting personal growth, self-awareness, and meaningful relationships with the important people in one’s life. This is a “client-centered” process in which the client determines the particular areas of discussion and exploration in a given session. It also is a “faith-friendly” process in which spiritual and religious concerns can be discussed, if a client chooses to do so.

• All persons who can benefit from PPI’s services are accepted without discrimination based on age, color, ethnic origin, religious affiliation or physical disability.
• PPI is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare as an Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic. It also is a free-standing facility of the Allegheny County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program.
• PPI provides some 12,000 hours of counseling and psychotherapy annually through its main office in Shadyside, and its approximately 20 branch offices (throughout Allegheny County and in Westmoreland and Lawrence Counties.
• PPI’s services are covered by most major insurance companies including: Highmark, UPMC, Community Care, Value Options, United Behavioral Health, Health America, and Aetna. Some financial assistance is available in cases of financial hardship or lack of insurance.

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Mission

Affirming the existence of a Good and Loving God, and working within Christian and Jewish traditions, PPI exists to enhance the health of individuals, families, and communities through an interfaith ministry of healing and education that integrates the resources of faith and the behavioral sciences.

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General Purpose

The general purpose of PPI is to provide, from an interfaith perspective, the services of: counseling and psychotherapy; professional training, supervision, and consultation in counseling and psychotherapy; psychological and career assessment; community education; and community collaboration with organizations and institutions that share PPI’s vision and concerns for ministry.

These services are offered to all persons who can use them effectively, regardless of sex, race, age, color, or religion, and are provided in accordance with the Standards and Code of Ethics of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

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Specific Purposes

1) To provide pastoral counseling and psychotherapy, with the aid of psychiatric and interdisciplinary consultation, to individuals, couples, families, and groups.

2) To provide training, supervision, and consultation to religious and mental health professionals interested in developing their pastoral care, counseling, and psychotherapy skills.

3) To provide vocational and career consultation and assessment for persons considering or currently involved in ordained ministry, including members of religious orders.

4) To provide formal psychological evaluations:

a) For candidates seeking to qualify for ordination by a religious judicatory or for membership in a religious order;

b) For PPI clients as an adjunct to their counseling process;

c) For any other persons who can benefit from the types of psychological testing available through PPI.

5) To provide community education on topics which promote spiritual and psychological health in individuals, families, and communities.

6) To establish and maintain effective forms of community outreach and collaboration:

a) To determine relevant pastoral services;

b) To cooperate with other organizations and institutions for more effective ministry;

c) To inform the community of the nature and types of pastoral services provided by PPI.

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