Psychotherapy is often shunned by religious people in favor of pastoral advising. Pastors and religious elders have a wealth of life experience and are usually well-intentioned, but in a specialized society, they fall far below the counseling standards of experience and expertise obtained by psychotherapists. While qualified to advise on religious matters or provide one or two interventional sessions, pastors and elders are not qualified to counsel individuals needing mental health or relationship support. Let's examine the reasons.