Strategic Pastoral Counseling : A Short-Term Structured Model

by Benner, David G.

• ISBN13: 9780801026317
• ISBN10: 0801026318
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

The average pastor spends six to eight hours each week counseling parishioners. Unfortunately, because of inadequate training and time pressures, many pastors find counseling to be a frustrating and unfulfilling facet of their call to provide spiritual direction and guidance. David Benner here provides clergy and church-based counselors with a counseling model that is both distinctively pastoral and psychologically informed. Benner's approach advocates maintaining narrowly focused objectives in a time-limited setting. Since its original publication, Strategic Pastoral Counseling has been a standard for pastoral counseling classes and a practical resource for clergy. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and includes two new chapters, helpful case studies, and a new appendix on contemporary ethical issues. It will continue to serve as a practical resource for pastoral care and as a standard text in counseling classes. Book jacket.

Author Biography

David G. Benner (Ph.D., York University) is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Spirituality at the Psychological Studies Institute (Atlanta) and a practicing clinical psychologist. The author or editor of over twenty books, he is the founding director of the Institute for Psychospiritual Health.

Table of Contents

Preface	7	(2)
Preface to the First Edition	9	(4)
1. Pastoral Counseling as Soul Care	13	(18)
2. The Uniqueness of Pastoral Counseling	31	(16)
3. The Strategic Pastoral Counseling Model	47	(26)
4. The Stages and Tasks of Strategic Pastoral Counseling	73	(32)
5. Ellen: A Five-Session Case Illustration	105	(30)
6. Bill: A Single-Session Case Illustration	135	(12)
Appendix: Ethical Considerations in Pastoral Counseling	147	(4)
References	151