Howard Clinebell

Howard John Clinebell (June 3, 1922 – April 13, 2005) was a minister in the United Methodist Church and a professor in pastoral counseling. He pioneered a counseling approach that combined psychotherapy and religion.

Early life and education

Howard Clinebell was born in Springfield, Illinois, on June 3, 1922, to Howard J. and Clem (Whittenberg) Clinebell. He graduated from DePauw University in Indiana and Garrett Theological Seminary in Illinois, and he received a doctorate from Columbia University.

As one of the fathers of the pastoral counseling movement Clinebell was an early advocate of training in psychotherapy for seminarians aiming to work as counselors. He was a founding member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, He was also the founding director of the Institute for Religion and Wholeness at Claremont and the Clinebell Institute. In addition, he was a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor.

Besides pastoral counseling, Clinebell addressed topics like personal problems in the context of relationships, the effects of social systems on individual lives, parapsychology, and the relationship of human beings to the environment.

Personal life and death

Clinebell was married to Charlotte Clinebell for almost 60 years, and had three children. He died April 13, 2005, of complications from Parkinson's disease at Vista del Monte Retirement Community in Santa Barbara.