The Pastoral Care of People with Mental Health Problems

by Marion L. S. Carson

Publisher:

SPCK

, 2008

Overview

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.

Contents

Top Highlights

“A psychotic individual is unlikely to have such insight into the strangeness of the experience and would have expected everyone around her to accept it as quite ordinary.” (Page 61)

“Schizophrenics, like all other members of society, want to be taken seriously, to be treated as individuals and not simply as people who suffer from a particular illness. We can therefore at least try to understand the person’s situation positively, with ‘a genuine curiosity, a preparedness to listen non-judgementally, a belief in their rights, and in the need to acknowledge their strengths and address their aspirations’ (Repper in Harris et al., 2002, 46). As in any relationship, humour, positiveness and optimism are important. So too is flexibility—the ability to cope with sudden, and perhaps incomprehensible, changes of mind and perception of needs.” (Page 57)

“The third criterion for determining genuine religious experience is described by Evelyn Underhill as the ‘fruits test’. Is Alice’s life orderly or chaotic?” (Page 61)

“at the centre of our faith is One who accepted all men and women” (Page xvi)

“they are told that their mental illness has its origins in sin.” (Page xxi)

Product Details

• Title: The Pastoral Care of People with Mental Health Problems
• Author: Marion L. S. Carson
• Series: New Library of Pastoral Care
• Publisher: SPCK
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 192
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Church work with the mentally ill; Mental health › Religious aspects--Christianity; Pastoral counseling › Case studies
• Resource ID: LLS:PSTRLCRPPLMNTLH
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T05:17:37Z

About Marion L. S. Carson

Marion Carson worked for many years as a psychiatric nurse in Glasgow, and later managed a hostel for patients discharged from long-term psychiatric care. After earning a PhD in New Testament studies from the University of Glasgow, she took up the post of lecturer in New Testament pastoral care at the International Christian College. She regularly lectures on mental health issues.