The Role of Pastoral Psychology in the Context of the Pandemic

Abstract

During times of crisis, people experience depression, anxiety, insecurity, and other issues that affect their physical, mental, and emotional health. The COVID-19 pandemic was and continues to be a risk; since its onset, it has led to mandatory lockdowns, causing political, social, and economic chaos that has impacted households in multiple ways. This has manifested in the coexistence and tolerance among family members due to mandatory quarantine, as well as in food procurement, the threat of infection, and fear of potential job loss, among other issues. This made material and spiritual support necessary, but essentially psychological support from a pastoral perspective. Throughout this document, we show how pastoral psychology provides resources for comprehensive accompaniment as a therapeutic strategy, combined with the various elements offered by general psychology. The aim is to help and provide a stabilizing hope that seeks to heal the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the individual.