Dr. Hofstetter

Rev. Dr. Melissa Hofstetter

 

In her capacity as psychological consultant to denominations, Dr. Hofstetter offers psychological assessment to ministry candidates to help the denomination do its due diligence in discerning candidates’ Readiness for Ministry.   Dr. Hofstetter is unique in that she is licensed and/or authorized to offer psychological assessment to clergy candidates in over 40 states.  (Most psychologists are only licensed to practice in a limited number of states.)  She is licensed in California (Lic#PSY25696) and Arizona (Lic#4125), and is an interjurisdictional Telehealth provider through PsyPact (Authorization Holder #4880).  She is also authorized to serve candidates in Massachusetts for a limited number of calendar days each year.  Dr. Hofstetter provides psychological assessments and psychological consultation via telehealth to ministry organizations across the country, which is helpful to denominational structures that require interjurisdictional work.   (Here is ASPPB’s PsyPact map of enacted or effective states.)  Dr. Hofstetter is both a clinical psychologist and an ordained minister, which also uniquely equips her to evaluate ministry readiness.    

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CLERGY ASSESSMENT

Given her unique perspective, with both a clinical and pastoral lens for clergy leaders, Dr. Hofstetter offers psychological assessment to both ministry candidates and their credentialing bodies to help them discern if ordination candidates are ready for the demands and vicissitudes of ministry.  She aims to help pastors have longevity in their vocations, and to help denominations and credentialling bodies with due diligence with respect to conferring ordination.  She hopes to help pastors and their families set themselves up to be as emotionally healthy as possible when they enter into the ministry. 

Her entire private practice is currently devoted to clergy assessment and psychological consultation.  She does not offer psychotherapy through her own private practice at this time. 

BACKGROUND

Dr. Hofstetter received her M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary,  and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Fuller’s Graduate School of Psychology (APA-accredited). 

Given her unique perspective, with both a clinical and pastoral lens for clergy leaders, she offers psychological assessment to both ministry candidates and their credentialing bodies to help them discern if ordination candidates are ready for the demands and vicissitudes of ministry.  She aims to help pastors have longevity in their vocations.  She hopes to help them set themselves up to be as emotionally healthy as possible when they enter into the ministry. 

Dr. Hofstetter has served as adjunct faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary, teaching on the spirituality for professional caregivers, as well as at Azusa Pacific Seminary as professor to M.Div. students who are studying pastoral care and congregational health.   She has also served as psychology adjunct faculty to Azusa Pacific University’s psychology doctoral and undergraduate programs, teaching courses in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, personality, family psychology, adult development, general psychology, and management of private practice.  She has supervised the clinical work of doctoral psychology students at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology at various levels of their training. 

She has held membership with the American Psychological Association (APA), the San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.