This paper investigates respondents within the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, their view on theodicy as it has impacted clients, the lens of their particular clinical framework, and how they consider their theological orientation impacting the clinical setting toward the healing of evil. Questions for consideration are: How do seasoned AAPC experts define evil in today’s world? In what way does the manner in which therapists define evil influence their effectiveness in aiding clients resolve the impact of evil in their lives? How do different therapists use their methods of choice to help clients deal with evil? In what way does the effect of evil upon clients impact the therapist personally? Finding common denominators for defining evil will be explored. The importance of further research will be discussed. Exploring the above much neglected aspects will potentially bring therapists together in the trenches, normalize the human process of living with traumas, and give insight for new therapists who may find working with evil overwhelming. In bringing many voices together in discussion it breaks a dysfunctional barrier and de-mystifies the clinical process and the silence that maintains the illusion that the pain of client’s does not affect the counselor. The findings provide information that demonstrates that clinicians are profoundly impacted and this experience changes not only their clinical methods, but also their theological and inner-personal frameworks.
