New Library of Pastoral Care (10 vols.)

This best-selling volume has been fully revised and updated to take account of the latest thinking about the theory and practice of therapy and pastoral counseling. Based on decades of experience and filled with examples from his own ministry, Michael Jacobs’ work discusses the unique role of the pastor and offers methods and exercises for counseling with compassion.

Most people will readily acknowledge that sin and guilt form an all-too-familiar part of what it is to be human. This appears to be true, whether or not these experiences are thought to have a religious connotation. Why is this? And why do some people find it relatively easy to accept forgiveness (whether human or divine), while others remain gripped by a sense of remorse? These are questions that confront all people involved in pastoral care, and Christian pastors in particular need to explore them thoroughly if they are to exercise that care with skill and discernment. Basing her observations on true stories, Mary Anne Coate examines both the theological and the psychological dimensions of the subject, leading the reader toward a robust understanding of the often hazardous journey from sin through guilt to forgiveness.

Wesley Carr’s Handbook offers an authoritative and comprehensive introduction to the theology and practice of pastoral studies. It discusses group dynamics, applied psychology, sociology and ministry, church models, and more in detail. This is an accessible guide to the theological, psychological, and sociological aspects of pastoral care.

New multiprofessional approaches to care require that those in ministry develop a solid grasp of current models of grief. This volume outlines the latest research and thinking about grief and bereavement, covering the role of hospice, advance directives, near-death experiences, multicultural issues, palliative care, post-traumatic stress, alternative funerals, and more. Letting Go holds a central place within the pastoral literature for shepherds of the dying or bereaved.

Basic listening skills are at the heart of all communication, especially pastoral encounters. In this updated edition of Swift to Hear, Michael Jacobs addresses listening and responding skills, describing the process of communication itself. Learning to listen—to hear what a person is really saying—is of paramount importance in any counseling situation; if practitioners can enhance these skills they will be far more effective. Clear explanations and numerous exercises make this an excellent book for training in all fields of pastoral work.

With a strong focus on pastoral care and practical theology related to age and aging, this book will help caregivers in many different settings understand the elderly and the issues they face. In particular, it examines how theories of age relate to our experience, and how such experience might challenge and shape our theologies. Shared commitment to lifelong learning can help our ministry to be reflective and wise; it can broaden our imagination with sympathy. Valuing Age is grounded in the experiences of older people—their hopes and fears, their problems and possibilities. Each chapter includes exercises for further reflection, and notes that point to related readings.

What is the place of care and counseling within the broader context of the work of the church? This study of pastoral care gives context and perspective to the recent explosion of pastoral counseling. While pastoral care can draw upon the insights of secular therapies, it has its own integrity, rooted in the life and worship of Jesus Christ. The theological importance of pastoral care is thus made central. This book offers an important manifesto for ministry, and the need to hold in balance the practical and the theological. Drawing upon a wide range of case material, David Lyall sets out a theology and practice of pastoral care, affirming the importance of the Christian narrative amid the realities of postmodern society.

This book guides ministers and those in training toward a way of integrating theology, pastoral activity, and personal faith. The new discipline of practical theology has grown in importance, and The Pastor as Theologian offers explanations and exercises that will help today’s pastors apply biblical teachings and Christ’s example to their counseling and care ministries.

As a minister or pastoral worker, it is highly likely that, at some point, you will find yourself caring for people, and the families of people, with psychiatric problems. The Pastoral Care of People with Mental Health Problems provides an invaluable resource to help you provide the best care for those suffering from the most common problems: depression, Alzheimer’s disease, eating disorders, addiction to drugs or alcohol, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anti-social personality disorder. As well as outlining the main psychiatric conditions and their treatments, author Marion Carson examines ethics and the particular issues facing pastoral workers. With a wealth of pastoral illustrations, the book offers practical advice and guidance for the care of individuals and families who find their lives turned upside down by psychiatric illness.