Pastoral Care Emergencies

In this volume, David K. Switzer presents a clear, illustrative and practical manual for pastoral caregivers which covers the entire range of pastoral care emergencies typically faced by clergy, pastoral counselors, and lay caregivers. The chapters deal with issues such as situational crises, hospital emergencies, ministry to the dying, bereavement, suicide, divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, and psychiatric emergencies. The question of when and how to refer is discussed in the final chapter. This book is highly practical in approach, but still extremely sensitive to the theological issues at hand in ministering to those experiencing great emotional, mental, and physical distress.