Pastoral Psychology

Aims & Scope

Pastoral Psychology is an international interdisciplinary forum for the publication of peer-reviewed original papers that discuss the work of caring for, understanding, and exploring human beings as persons, in families, in small groups, and in community.

The journal brings the best of psychological, behavioral, social, and human sciences research into critical engagement with pastoral concerns (local, institutional, societal, political, international, and other).

The journal thoughtfully examines and discusses pastoral care and counseling, pastoral theology, psychology of religion, and the multidimensional interface between psychology and religion/spirituality.

All theoretical perspectives are welcome, including, but not limited to, psychoanalytic and other depth psychologies, experimental and empirical psychologies, humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology, and cultural psychology.

Insights from existential perspectives, gender studies, phenomenology, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies are welcome.

Theoretical contributions that have direct or indirect relevance for practice, broadly construed, are especially desirable, as our audience includes not only academics and scholars in religion and psychology, but also religious and spiritual leaders and others, such as chaplains, social workers, counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists.

Pastoral Psychology welcomes scholarship and reflection from all religious and spiritual traditions.

The journal publishes the timely work of recognized experts, but welcomes submissions from scholars and practitioners who are newer to their fields.

In addition to research papers, the journal publishes thoughtful essays and book and film reviews.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.425

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	33

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2024	0.80

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	13217

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	171

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Arts and Humanities, Psychology and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• The Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire

  Citation: 273

  Authors: Thomas G., Marcus T.

• The Development of the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale: An Abbreviation of Sprecher and Fehr’s Compassionate Love Scale

  Citation: 235

  Authors: Jeong Yeon, Thomas, Katy

• The Trauma and Complicated Grief of Ambiguous Loss

  Citation: 204

  Authors: Pauline

• The Development of a Brief Version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire

  Citation: 105

  Authors: Thomas G., Charlotte L., Allen C., Kenneth A.

• The Relationship of Clergy Burnout to Self-Compassion and Other Personality Dimensions

  Citation: 102

  Authors: Laura K., John F.

• On being a “Workaholic”

  Citation: 100

  Authors: Wayne E.

• Assessing Spiritual Health via Four Domains of Spiritual Wellbeing: The SH4DI

  Citation: 97

  Authors: John W., Leslie J., Peter

• Reliability and validity of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire

  Citation: 82

  Authors: Thomas G., Marcus

• Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Social Support

  Citation: 79

  Authors: Kathleen, Kevin J., Paul B., Taryn

• The Relationship Between Religion and Happiness Among German Students

  Citation: 67

  Authors: Leslie J., Hans-Georg, Christopher Alan

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