Being in college can bring with it many struggles, both past and present, expected or unexpected, and addressing them in a spiritual context may be helpful. Pastoral Counseling embraces the Jesuit principle of cura personalis – care for the whole person – by integrating mental health counseling with one's spirituality or faith tradition. A valued entity within Campus Ministry, Pastoral Counseling is also an important component of the Murray Center for Student Wellness.

Questions?

If you’re interested in Clinical Pastoral Counseling or to refer someone, contact Rick for an initial conversation:

Contact Rick Rossi
richard.rossi@bc.edu
617-552-6592
McElroy 227

About Pastoral Counseling at ºÚÁÏÉç

What is Pastoral Counseing?

Pastoral counseling is a form of therapy that gives special attention to the role that spirituality plays in a person’s mental health and overall well-being. See below for more information about individual pastoral counseling and programs offered throughout the academic year. 

Clinical Pastoral Counseling at ºÚÁÏÉç is an experience of counseling and/or psychotherapy for any ºÚÁÏÉç undergraduate or graduate students who would like their experience of counseling/therapy to take place in a spiritual context with someone who has training in both psychotherapy and spirituality. ºÚÁÏÉç offers this option to students of any spiritual/religious background/faith tradition. 

Meet the Pastoral Counselors

Denee, Grace and Rick are all Clinical Social Workers with education, training, and experience in Pastoral Ministry and are available to meet confidentially on a short-term or ongoing basis. 

Denee Kinnemore
Denee Kinnemore
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Denee Kinnemore

Denee Kinnemore

Rick Rossi, LICSW
Rick Rossi, LICSW

617-552-6592
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Rick Rossi, LICSW

Rick Rossi, LICSW

| 617-552-6592 | McElroy 227

Rick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Campus Minister. He joined Boston College in 2002 after earning his Master’s in Pastoral Ministry. Over the years, he has worked with various Campus Ministry programs including Kairos, 4Boston, the Ignatian Society, and the Manresa Retreat. Rick is a trained spiritual director and has also served as a ºÚÁÏÉç SANet Advocate. He completed his degree and licensure for clinical social work in 2015. Within a psychodynamic grounding, Rick draws on various therapeutic approaches in a strengths-based focus, prioritizing the importance of identity, justice, and compassion. Rick enjoys partnering with students to discover how spirituality and spiritual practices can be relevant to overall healing and growth.

Grace Davis
Grace Davis

617-552-8307
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Grace Davis

Grace Davis

| 617-552-8307

Grace is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) and holds Master’s degrees in Social Work and Theology & Ministry from Boston College. Grace’s second year social work field placement was in Pastoral Care and Counseling at ºÚÁÏÉç. Before beginning graduate studies, Grace lived and worked in Guayaquil, Ecuador as a Rostro de Cristo volunteer and later served as a Campus Minister at Saint Joseph’s University. Currently, Grace serves as the Campus Minister for Retreats, while continuing to serve in a part-time role as a clinical pastoral counselor. Grace’s experiences in pastoral ministry and social justice work have deepened her understanding of compassion, collaboration, and accompaniment, which have become guiding principles in her approach to clinical pastoral counseling. Utilizing a strengths-based perspective and drawing from a variety of therapeutic modalities, Grace enjoys accompanying students and creating a supportive space to explore and prioritize students’ hopes for their experience of pastoral counseling.

Support, Now

Campus Ministry is committed to providing a welcoming environment for all members of the ºÚÁÏÉç community, fully recognizing and valuing all identities, beliefs, and experiences. Pastoral Counseling in particular welcomes any and all spiritualities, faith practices, and traditions, with no expectations or requirements. Especially in the context of the unprecedented, ongoing uncertainty of our shared social and racial trauma and loss, along with increased vigilance, we encourage students to seek support from our staff. 

If you’re interested in seeing if Clinical Pastoral Counseling is something you’d like to pursue, or if you’d like to refer someone, contact Rick for an initial conversation to determine best next steps:

Highlighted Programs

Axios

Axios is an inclusive and affirming space for LGBTQ+ and questioning undergraduate students to reflect, in ongoing community, on the intersection of sexuality and spirituality in their lives.

Center

Center is a free, 6-week spiritual mindfulness group. With guidance and support, each week we’ll learn a distinct and accessible meditative practice and spiritual outlook to deepen our relationship with each other and ourselves.

Together

Together is a student-centered grief support group for undergrads, meeting weekly for 6 weeks each semester. It’s an opportunity for anyone carrying grief at ºÚÁÏÉç to see that they’re far from alone in this experience.

Pregnancy Resources

Boston College is here to support students expecting a child. We hold the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of a woman, the child, and those who care about them, in a strong network of support. Find out more about ºÚÁÏÉç’s supportive resources.

Peer Grief Support Network

The Peer Support Network is a resource for students who’ve experienced loss and are looking to connect with other students who are carrying loss. Interested students will be paired up to meet 1-1 informally for coffee, ice cream, a walk, or anything that feels like a fit.

Grief Resources

Boston College is here to support students experiencing grief. We hold the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of our students in a strong network of support. Find out more about ºÚÁÏÉç’s supportive resources.

Mosaic: A Grief Retreat

Mosaic is a daylong, off-campus retreat for undergrad and grad students who have experienced loss and are carrying grief. Come share in opportunities for conversation, reflection, prayer, and community with peers and Pastoral Counseling staff.