Howard John Clinebell (June 3, 1922[1] – April 13, 2005) was a minister in the United Methodist Church and a professor in pastoral counseling.
He "graduated from DePauw University in Indiana and Garrett Theological Seminary in Illinois.
"[3] In addition he studied psychotherapy at the William Alanson White Institute in New York City.
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.
Clinebell died April 13, 2005, of complications from Parkinson's disease at Vista del Monte Retirement Community in Santa Barbara.