Religious counselling Books

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Book SynopsisThe classic counseling handbook for churches, classrooms, and the helping professions.This revised and expanded third edition of Gary R. Collins’s comprehensive counseling guide offers solid biblical teaching on how to counsel and wise guidance on a broad range of situations counselors are likely to encounter.Christian Counseling provides updated, extensive coverage of the most common issues troubling those who seek counseling, such as Abuse Addictions Aging Anxiety Career decisions Crises Depression Grief Inferiority Marriage and relationship problems Clearly written and easy-to-read, Christian Counseling provides lasting value as a textbook for students and their professors, a training tool for lay counselors, a source of information for those seeking a greater understanding of human behavior, and a primer on the biblical f

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Book SynopsisDiscipleship that Deeply Changes Your Relationship with Others As Part 2 of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Course, Pete and Geri Scazzero developed Emotionally Healthy (EH) Relationships over a 27-year period to directly address core biblical principles to guide you and others into an experience of discipleship that will deeply change your life.In EH Relationships Expanded Edition, everyone will learn eight practical relationship skills to develop mature, loving relationships with others, such as: Stop Mind Reading and Clarify Expectations Climb the Ladder of Integrity Incarnational Listening Clean Fighting And since loving others and loving God cannot be separated, each person will also grow in their personal, first-hand relationship with Jesus by incorporating stillness, silence, and Scripture as daily life rhythms. Part 2 of the Emotionally Healthy Disciple

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Book SynopsisA practical, non-patronizing guide to depressive illness for Christians

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Book SynopsisSt Ignatius Brianchaninov (1807-1867) struggled with chronic illness and disability through most of his adult life. Thus his own life experience disposed him to reflect on the meaning of suffering and how through it we might find a harbor for our hope.

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Book SynopsisDrawn from more than sixty years of classroom experience, this introductory guide provides students with a coherent framework for considering psychology from a Christian perspective. Paul Moes and Donald Tellinghuisen explore biblical themes of human nature in relation to all major areas of psychology, showing how a Christian understanding of humans can inform the study of psychology. The first edition has proven to be a successful textbook, with over 11,000 copies sold. The second edition has been updated and revised throughout based on student and instructor feedback. Brief, accessible chapters correspond to standard introductory psychology textbooks, making this an excellent supplemental text. The book includes end-of-chapter questions. An updated test bank for professors is available through Textbook eSources.Table of ContentsFive Themes of a Biblical View of Human NatureIntroduction: Why Did I Do That?1. Who Am I? Themes of Human Nature2. People Predicting People: Research Methodology3. Bodies Revealed: Brain and Behavior4. Who Is in Control? Consciousness5. Making Sense of Your Surroundings: Sensation, Perception, and Attention6. Change from the Heart: Learning7. Remember Me? Memory8. Think about It: Decision Making and Reasoning9. Moving toward a Goal: Developmental Psychology10. Trust Your Feelings: Emotion11. We're in This Together: Social Psychology, Part 112. Faithful Attitude and Action: Social Psychology Part 213. The Real You: Personality14. In Search of Normality: Psychological Disorders15. "Meaningful" Healing: TherapyAppendix: Christian Approaches to Psychology: The Case of Evolutionary PsychologyReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThrough brief meditations on Psalms 88 and 89, Ligon Duncan points to God's promises that sustain Christians even when he seems silent through their suffering.

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Book SynopsisThis substantially revised and updated edition of a widely used textbook covers the major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy from a Christian perspective, with hypothetical transcripts of interventions for each major approach and the latest empirical or research findings on their effectiveness. The second edition covers therapies and techniques that are increasing in use and includes a discussion of lay counseling. The book presents a Christian approach to counseling and psychotherapy that is Christ-centered, biblically based, and Spirit-filled.Table of ContentsContentsPart 1: Basic Issues in the Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy1. Overview of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice2. The Person of the Counselor3. Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling and PsychotherapyPart 2: Major Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories and Techniques4. Psychoanalytic Therapy5. Adlerian Therapy6. Jungian Therapy7. Existential Therapy8. Person-Centered Therapy9. Gestalt Therapy10. Reality Therapy11. Behavior Therapy12. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy13. Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies: DBT, MBSR, MBCT, and ACT14. Constructivist Therapies: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Narrative Therapy15. Integrative Therapies and Positive Psychotherapy16. Marital and Family TherapyPart 3: A Christian Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy17. Christian Theology in Christian Counseling: A Biblical Perspective on Human Nature and Effective Counseling and Psychotherapy18. Christian Faith in Clinical Practice: Implicit and Explicit Integration19. The Holy Spirit and Christian Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy20. Legal and Ethical Issues in Christian Counseling and PsychotherapyAppendix: Is Psychotherapy Effective?ReferencesIndexes

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Book SynopsisIf you''re ready to conquer stress and embrace the peace that your soul longs for, New York Times bestseller Rhythms of Renewal is your new go-to guide to transforming your life, one day at a time. Join Rebekah Lyons as she invites you to trade your anxiety for the vibrant life you were meant to live through four profound rhythms: rest, restore, connect, and create. As a society, we are in the throes of a collective panic attack. Anxiety and loneliness are on the rise, with 77% of our population experiencing physical symptoms of stress on a regular basis. We feel pressure chasing careers, security, and keeping up. We worry about health, politics, and many other complexities we can''t control. Eventually we find our minds spinning, trying to cope or manage a low hum of anxiety unlike anything we''ve ever experienced. But Rebekah reminds us that it doesn''t have to stay this way.Rebekah draws f

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Book SynopsisThis whole-person, interactive approach to body image includes coloring sheets, journaling prompts, and therapist insights that ground you in God?s love and build you up in truth. Are you tired of being at war with your body?and with your thoughts about your body? Rachael Gilbert struggled with shame when she didn?t measure up to her dream body image. Then, as a fitness instructor and licensed counselor specializing in disordered eating, she realized how many of us bury the same painful insecurities. But keeping up appearances is exhausting. We need restoration from the inside out. In Image RESTored, Rachael offers professional guidance, coloring pages, Scripture, prayers, journaling prompts, and a link to online teaching videos to help you experience true freedom. See your whole self in a new way as you learn: A biblical perspective on eating, weight loss, fitness, and self-confidence rooted in God?s love. Counselor-inspired strategies to help you appreciate how God made you. How to reframe stories that formed your attitude toward your body. Tools for overcoming comparison and trauma. Ways to use thoughts and feelings so they help you rather than sabotage you. Rich with spiritual and therapeutic insights, this Christian body image workbook calls you to experience healing and wellness that starts with knowing God?s love for you?mind, soul, body, and spirit. Presented by Esther Press: Books for Courageous Women This interactive study guide includes a free QR code and URL to access all six videos, plus additional content for engaging study as a group or on your own. To aid you in your planning, following are the session titles and video run times: 1 Counselor''s Cornerstone / Video Chat One 8:41 2 Counselor''s Cornerstone / Video Chat Two 9:02 3 Counselor''s Cornerstone / Video Chat Three 8:23 4 Counselor''s Cornerstone / Video Chat Four 7:10 5 Counselor''s Cornerstone / Video Chat Five 8:53 6 Counselor''s Cornerstone / Video Chat Six 7:20

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Book SynopsisTwo-thirds of men and a third of women who attend church regularly say they struggle with pornography. Yet only 7% of churches offer specific resources and support to their congregations. Pastors and church leaders are well aware of the issue of pornography—thanks to decades of studies and Christian blog and magazine articles—however the local church is caught in a painful trap. When Christians are too ashamed to admit their struggle, church leaders aren’t able to directly support those who are actively struggling; when church attendees do find the courage to seek help, they often receive ineffective support from pastors and ministry leaders due to lack of proactive planning.As a former journalist and current Director of Recovery Education for Covenant Eyes, Sam Black understands the stronghold pornography can have on an individual’s life. His writing in The Healing Church actively addresses these issues and provides clear guidance for ministry leaders as they support those who seek to live in freedom.In The Healing Church, ministry leaders will discover how to create safe spaces and apply processes that restore those trapped in compulsive behaviors with pornography. Sam Black outlines the most successful examples from churches currently providing meaningful aid and includes stories of Christians who found healing from porn strongholds, as evidence of the type of healing that pastors and church leaders can provide. In researching this book, Sam Black conducted more than 70 interviews not only with pastors, counselors, and ministry leaders, but also with everyday people who recovered from a secret life of sin and are helping others who feel trapped by porn and unwanted sexual behaviors. The Healing Church affirms how those who experience true brokenness and surrender to discipleship and life change become strong servants to the Body of Christ and healthier as people overall. When the selfish become selfless, when the idolators learn to worship Christ, when the prideful become meek, they become more fulfilled as servants and filled with purpose.Today, the local church has choices. It can largely ignore the problems of pornography because they are too unseemly. It can chastise, rebuke, and cast out, which sends more people into hiding. Or it can lead people through a grace-filled process to the foot of the Cross, where strongholds are crushed and where stronger servants arise.

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Book SynopsisThis accessible primer sets out the core elements and methods of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and shows how to use it most effectively to improve clinicians' capacity for spiritual care.The guide explains how to learn best from verbatim sessions, open agenda groups and writing projects. It shows how the primary learning modalities of CPE add competence to a spiritual caregiver's practice, suggesting helpful ways to reflect on spiritual care encounters from varying perspectives. It recommends ways to collaborate with a peer group, enhance frameworks of understanding people, improve self-awareness and broaden one's scope of caring while also deepening it. Written by an experienced supervisor of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, this guide is an essential introduction for anyone seeking to foster positive attitudes and practice of spiritual care in hospitals, hospices and other clinical settings.Trade ReviewHow to Get the Most out of Clinical Pastoral Education is a great read for anyone considering the sacred journey of CPE. I highly recommend it for anyone who has been, is, or ever plans to be enrolled in a CPE program. -- Rev Dr Amy Greene, Director, Center for Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic Health System Board Chair 2018-2019, ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and EducationThis book fully describes and demystifies CPE, and it is full of nuggets of wisdom about engaging this unique process of experiential learning. -- Christina Miller, RN, MSN, MDiv Retired Palliative Care Program CoordinatorTable of ContentsForeword - Judith Ragsdale. Preface. 1. Engage the Educational Methods. 2. Embrace the Learning Culture. 3. Become a Process Leader: Pursue the Milestones in CPE Professional Development. 4. Befriend Your Own Spiritual Development - A Phenomenological Theory for CPE. 5. The Limitations of CPE and Applying for an ACPE Program. 6. Meet the Standards - Simplified. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisTwenty-five years after writing the classic on sexual harm and healing, psychologist Dan Allender draws on the latest research to provide fresh help and hope to victims of sexual abuse.

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Book SynopsisBestselling authors Neil Anderson and Rich Miller want to show you how to let go of the common but harmful fears of failure, evil, and death and find safety in your relationship with God. Come, trade your worry-filled days for a worshipful life.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, renowned psychologist Dr. Dan Allender and counselor Cathy Loerzel present a biblically trustworthy and transformational method for healing from painful memories and emotional trauma, stepping into true freedom, and discovering that your wounds are unlikely guides to inner strength and joy.

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Book SynopsisThis resource will make pastors, counselors, and lay leaders more comfortable, confident, and competent in their role as encouragers, freeing people from emotional pain and spiritual conflicts, as they understand who they are in Christ.

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Book SynopsisWhy does our past pain continue to affect our present?Though many of us can point to patterns of brokenness in our lives, we don’t know why they''re there. No matter how hard we work, we can’t seem to outrun the very things that break our hearts. That''s because our everyday setbacks are rooted in our unaddressed wounds.In Why Am I Like This? seminary-trained, licensed trauma therapist Kobe Campbell helps us understand why it’s so hard to break these patterns as she offers us a deeper understanding of how our past shapes our present. With tender wisdom, rare vulnerability, and profound honesty, Kobe reminds each reader that they’re not alone, empowering them to step into healing with evidence-based, faith-filled coping skills and resources.In Why Am I Like This?, you will: gain an understanding of what trauma and healing really are, explore the roots of your dysfunctional patterns, lear

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1989, Dan Allender''s The Wounded Heart has helped hundreds of thousands of people come to terms with sexual abuse in their past. Now, more than twenty-five years later, Allender has written a brand-new book on the subject that takes into account recent discoveries about the lasting physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual ramifications of sexual abuse.With great compassion Allender offers hope for victims of rape, date rape, incest, molestation, sexting, sexual bullying, unwanted advances, pornography, and more, exposing the raw wounds that are left behind and clearing the path toward wholeness and healing. Never minimizing victims'' pain or offering pat spiritual answers that don''t truly address the problem, he instead calls evil evil and lights the way to renewed joy.Counselors, pastors, and friends of those who have suffered sexual harm will find in this book the deep spiritual guidance they need to effectively minister to

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Book SynopsisPastors and counselors regularly minister to people whose marriages or families are in crisis. Tempers run high and feelings are brought low when a marriage is hurting or a family is in disarray. Pastors and counselors need practical, biblical help in order to connect their theological training to the reality of modern messy relationships. These how-to training manuals provide relevant, user-friendly equipping for pastors, counselors, lay leaders, educators, and students, enabling them to competently and compassionately relate God''s Word to marriage and family life.

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Book SynopsisHelps adult victims of sexual assault move from brokenness to healing. This book outlines a theology or redemption and includes an application of how the disgrace of the cross can lead victims toward grace.

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Book SynopsisThis book aims to equip Christians facing end-of-life decisions by simplifying confusing jargon and exploring biblical principles families need in order to navigate the transition from this life to the next.

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Book SynopsisThis acclaimed work has introduced tens of thousands of clinicians to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for depression, an 8-week program with proven effectiveness. Step by step, the authors explain the whys and how-tos of conducting mindfulness practices and cognitive interventions that have been shown to bolster recovery from depression and prevent relapse. Clinicians are also guided to practice mindfulness themselves, an essential prerequisite to teaching others. Forty-five reproducible handouts are included. Purchasers get access to a companion website featuring downloadable audio recordings of the guided mindfulness practices (meditations and mindful movement), plus all of the reproducibles, ready to download and print in a convenient 8 1/2 x 11 size. A separate website for use by clients features the audio recordings only. New to This Edition *Incorporates a decade's worth of developments in MBCT clinical practice and training. *Chapters on additional Trade Review"MBCT is a major achievement. Based on a coherent body of experimental work, the treatment has proven its worth in reducing the recurrence of depression and, as a consequence, changing the future prospects of numerous people whose lives are blighted by repeated episodes of this disabling condition. This second edition will be widely welcomed by practitioners; every chapter has been updated and numerous new practical aids have been added, including downloadable practice exercises and handouts. Thoroughly recommended."--David M. Clark, DPhil, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression is the gold standard for anyone who wants to learn this powerful approach. The second edition brings this classic up to date, making it the state-of-the-art guide for therapists and students alike."--Daniel Goleman, PhD, author of Emotional Intelligence "I love this book. More than a book, actually, it is a trusted friend. If you are dedicated to helping vulnerable people stay well and protect themselves from future episodes of depression, you will find what you need here. The program is grounded in rigorous clinical research, sound theory, and an unwavering conviction about the possibility of learning to live each moment fully and wisely. The core building blocks from the first edition remain--step-by-step descriptions of each session, including transcripts, handouts, and rich case illustrations--but there are countless new treasures as well. The themes of many of the sessions have been refined in ways that bring the curriculum even closer to the lived experience of people struggling with recurrent depression. This book stands as an exemplar of how to integrate clinical innovation, science, and practice."--Sona Dimidjian, PhD, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder "What began as a thoughtful new approach to treating depression over a decade ago has since changed the face of cognitive therapy. In this truly outstanding second edition, the authors offer crystal-clear instructions for teaching the MBCT program. Important new chapters have been added on embodying compassion and practicing inquiry in the teaching process. The authors review the impressive research on MBCT and offer reflections on how it actually works. Clinicians of all theoretical orientations and levels of experience will discover insights and practical skills that can have a vital impact on how they practice psychotherapy."--Christopher Germer, PhD, private practice, Arlington, Massachusetts "Superb! The authors describe their evidence-based maintenance therapy for depression in great detail, while telling an engrossing (and well-referenced) story of how they developed their approach. Fascinating reading."--Ricardo F. Muñoz, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology, Palo Alto University "A defining resource in the burgeoning arena of mindfulness-based therapies. The second edition incorporates new evidence from both clinical trials and neuroscientific studies of the mind, continuing the story of discovery of the mindfulness path out of chronic depression. Presented is up-to-date conceptual and clinical material that reflects the experience and wisdom of the authors, their colleagues, and the many individuals who have benefited from MBCT. As a graduate textbook for a course on either major depression or psychotherapeutic uses of meditation, this volume illustrates the theory and application of mindfulness-based approaches in an elegant and always readable manner."--Jean L. Kristeller, PhD, Department of Psychology, Indiana State University "Warmly written, accessible, and deeply insightful. This landmark book has played a key role in making mindfulness a central concern in clinical practice. The up-to-date second edition not only summarizes the extraordinary expansion of research evidence, but also is immensely practical and filled with clinical wisdom. Important, too, is its emphasis on compassion. A 'must' for all therapists interested in mindfulness."--Paul Gilbert, PhD, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom-Table of ContentsIntroductionI. The Challenge of Depression1. Depression Casts a Long Shadow2. Why Do People Who Have Recovered from Depression Relapse?3. Developing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive TherapyII. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy4. Doing and Being5. The Eight-Session Program: How and Why6. The Preclass Participant Interview7. Awareness and Automatic Pilot: Session 18. Kindness and Self-Compassion in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy9. Living in Our Heads: Session 210. Gathering the Scattered Mind: Session 311. Recognizing Aversion: Session 412. Inquiring into Practice and Practicing Inquiry13. Allowing/Letting Be: Session 514. Thoughts Are Not Facts: Session 615. A Day of Mindful Practice16. How Can I Best Take Care of Myself?: Session 717. Maintaining and Extending New Learning: Session 818. Reprise: The 3-Minute Breathing Space as the Spine of the ProgramIII. Evaluation and Dissemination19. Does Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Work?20. How Does Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Achieve Its Effects?21. Moving the Program Off the Page and into the Clinic: Supports for Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Instructors and Their PatientsEpilogueAudio Downloads1. Welcome and Introduction (0:30)2. Raisin Exercise (9:13)3. Body Scan (37:47)4. 10-Minute Sitting Meditation--Mindfulness of the Breath (11:20)5. Mindful Movement--Formal Practice (38:25)6. Stretch and Breath Meditation (40:41)7. Mindful Walking (32:24)8. 3-Minute Breathing Space--Regular Version (4:08)9. 3-Minute Breathing Space--Responsive Version (4:58)10. 20-Minute Sitting Meditation (20:32)11. Sitting Meditation (36:46)12. Working with Difficulty Meditation (24:08)13. Bells at 5 Minutes, 10 Minutes, 15 Minutes, and 30 Minutes (30:32)

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Book SynopsisThis textbook updates the conversation about models of psychology and faith integration, helping students understand the range of options for Christian engagement. Drawing from themes developed in Paul Moes's well-received Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith (coauthored with Donald J. Tellinghuisen), Integrating Psychology and Faith develops a set of worldview dimensions that serve to organize a variety of psychology-faith integration models. Paul Moes and Blake Riek set forth principles and themes and establish historical context to help students explore where different views fit on a continuum of approaches to integration and understand the perspectives of other Christians in the field of psychology. In this way, students come to better understand the organizing principles for various views about psychology that they encounter. The book also shows how theological traditions and positions shape views on natural science, social science, and psychology.Table of ContentsPart 1: Philosophical Foundations1. Worldviews and Natural Science Beliefs2. Worldviews about Human Nature3. Views in Contemporary Psychology4. Views in Contemporary ReligionPart 2: Models of Integration5. Scientific Reductionism6. Biblical Reductionism7. Complementary Models8. Humanizers of ScienceConclusion and ReflectionAppendix: What Is a Person?Index

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Book SynopsisHow does God respond to trauma in a world full of horrors? Beyond their physical and emotional toll, the horrors of this world raise difficult theological and existential questions. Where is God in the darkest moments of the human experience? Is there any hope for recovery from the trauma generated by these horrors? There are no easy answers to these questions. In God of All Comfort, Scott Harrower addresses these questions head on. Using the Gospel of Matthew as a backdrop, he argues for a Trinitarian approach to horrors, showing how God—in his triune nature—reveals himself to those who have experienced trauma. He explores the many ways God relates restoratively with humanity, showing how God's light shines through the darkness of trauma.

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Book Synopsis"When I fell ill and stayed ill, I felt like God had chopped me off at the ankles. I yelped in pain and indignation, I felt painfully abandoned, diminished and finished. It took me a long time to learn that God was not out to kill me." Some illnesses begin with a bang, whipped off to hospital or flattened into bed. Other conditions creep in until normal life is no longer normal. Life skills are suddenly out of date. Work, socialising and hobbies are out of reach. It's a new and scary world. Emily Ackerman knows this world only too well. She knows what it feels like to cry out to God to relieve her suffering, to allow her to fulfil her life plans. She knows what it feels like to wait, year after year, while God works through her suffering, to fulfil his plans for her life. This book is about fighting back. It's about reclaiming your life now you're ill, and finding new ways to live well and serve effectively. You'll find survival strategies, encouragement, practical advice and fresh ways to view your situation. God hasn't given up on you: there's good news from the Bible about living abundantly and usefully with illness.

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Book SynopsisA Comprehensive Christian Resource for Treating Sexual Addiction and Problematic Sexual BehaviorAn estimated three to five percent of the U.S. population meet the criteria for sexual addiction, and many more engage in problematic sexual behavior or have been harmed by it. The statistics are startling: 77% of Christian men between 18 and 30 watch pornography monthly 35% of Christian men have had an extramarital affair 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls have been sexually abused Americans spend $13 billion a year on pornography, the regular viewing of which is linked to higher acceptance of violence against women and adversarial sexual beliefs. Therapists and pastors are not always adequately equipped to address the unique demands of competent care for those struggling with sexually addictive behaviors. Reclaiming Sexual Wholeness, edited by Todd Bowman, presents cutting-edge research from a diverse group of experts in

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Book SynopsisMost of What Happens in Your Life Happens Because of the Way You Think.Wrong thinking produces wrong emotions, wrong reactions, wrong behavior--and unhappiness! Learning to deal with your thoughts is the first step on the road to healthy thinking.How to handle one''s thoughts properly is what this book is all about! It explains the life-changing method the authors call Misbelief Therapy, and it can work for you--In your homeIn your own circumstancesIn your own problemsIn your own adverse environmentIn your own thinkingBased on the Bible, this book has helped thousands of people for many years, and it can help you!Telling Yourself the Truth can show you how to identify your own misbeliefs and replace them with the truth.Also available: the corresponding Telling Yourself the Truth study guide.Winner of the Gold

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Book SynopsisIn spite of their physical invisibility, emotional wounds are a very damaging form of abuse. Whether caused by words, actions, or even indifference, emotional abuse is common--yet often overlooked.In this helpful guide, Dr. Gregory L. Jantz reveals how those who have been abused by a spouse, parent, employer, or minister can overcome the past and rebuild their self-image. This revised and updated edition of Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse includes• strategies for dealing with the verbal abuser• self-check quizzes with each chapter• keys to rebuilding relationships• letters from survivors of emotional abuse• new information on dealing with spiritual abuse• and a biblical plan for healing.

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Book Synopsis· How do we deal wisely, intelligently and compassionately with those who suffer from mental illness? · Can we really make a difference if we aren’t professionals? · Is it possible to discern between bad behaviour due to illness and that caused by sin? Discover how your church can become a safe, encouraging and healing place. ‘The next-best thing to spending a week shadowing Professor Thomas.’ Sinclair Ferguson ‘Rational, readable and relevant, this book confirms that all involved in pastoral work can help tackle mental illness.’ Andrew Fergusson ‘The go-to resource for those who want to know more: the wisdom of reliable clinical experience laced with academic rigour and good common sense, all grounded in God’s word. I recommend it highly.’ Glynn Harrison ‘Empowers us all to play our part.’ Debbie Hawker ‘An accessible, practical, sensible and biblically grounded resource to help us navigate this challenging terrain.’ Sharon James ‘Presented in a way that will instil confidence that we can work with mental health professionals.’ Nick Pollard ‘Alan Thomas has shared his own important insights in what will become a standard book on the subject, accessible and wise.’ Geoff ThomasTrade ReviewWhether as a professional, carer, family member or perhaps a patient, every one of us will have been affected by mental illness. Christians may face further distress: is this behaviour sin or is it sickness? From a biblical and medical framework, and using case examples, consultant psychiatrist Alan Thomas makes everything clear. Rational, readable and relevant, this book confirms that all involved in Christian ministry and pastoral work can help tackle mental illness. -- Dr Andrew Fergusson * E-mail *Attitudes to mental illness today are still disfigured by too much fear and too little understanding, and Alan Thomas has written the go-to resource for those who want to know more about this crucial area. Firmly rooted in sound scholarship, it is nevertheless hugely accessible to its target readership - pastors, clergy and all those wanting to understand more about their own struggles or those of a family member. Here they will find the wisdom of reliable clinical experience laced with academic rigour and good common sense, all grounded in the Word of God. I recommend it highly. -- Professor Glynn HarrisonThis easy-to-read book improves our understanding of common mental health problems and their treatments. Using case studies and biblical teaching, it also empowers us all to play our part in helping, by reminding us that the little things (like listening, warmth and kindness) can help improved the mental health of those we encounter. -- Dr Debbie HawkerThis is a unique book, coming from a qualified, experience and deeply thoughtful man, dealing with a subject demanding much insight, compassion and also plain speaking. Making a certain distinction between immoral behaviour and that which is the result of a disease of the mind can at times be perplexing. Every case seems to be uncharted territory. There have been occasions when we have needed help. To whom can we turn? Now my friend Alan Thomas has shared his own important insights with us in what will become a standard book on the subject, accessible and wise. -- Geoff ThomasProfessor Alan Thomas is a psychiatrist with research interests in brain imaging and molecular biology. But he believes that human beings are more than just physical matter. Rather, we are holistic combinations of material bodies and immaterial spirits/minds - what he calls ‘psychosomatic wholes’. So, his book combines examples from his clinical practice, with summaries of scientific research, and theological reflections on the Bible’s teaching about the nature of humanity. The result is a comprehensive analysis of treatment possibilities for psychiatric disorders, presented in a way that will instil in church leaders the confidence that we can work together with mental health professionals as we seek to help people find healing from mental illness. -- Nick Pollard (Co-founder of EthosEducation.org and Chair of ‘A Spiritual Path to Mental Health’)This is a most welcome book on a hot topic, especially coming as it does from a respected authority on the subject currently working in the UK National Health Service, Alan Thomas, who is Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Newcastle University. A recurring theme in the book is reflected in its title - that 'people with minimal training can provide real therapeutic benefit to the mentally ill'. Professor Thomas is concerned that DSM-5, the psychiatrist's diagnostic manual, has widened the definition of mental illness. Now, it seems, the behaviour is the disorder. More people are thus brought within the realm of treatment by the health profession, and this can send a discouraging and disempowering signal to ministers and churches - "this is a job for professionals." The truth is that both have complementary roles, and that wise, experienced, empathetic, 'ordinary' christians with good listening skills, who know the sufferer, can provide vital support to those with mental illnesses. The subtitle of the book is 'A Biblical and Practical Approach', and hence begins with emphasizing the body-and-soul nature of man (mental illness is not just "all in the mind"), and the implications of the Fall on what we were made for. Professor Thomas roundly criticizes Freud's view of the unconscious mind, and provides a very clear assessment of the issue of personal responsibility in relation to mental illness ("Is it sickness or sin?"). He fascinatingly observes the effect of culture upon the manifestation of stress, eg. shell shock, before coming on to an overview of treatments - drugs, ECT, psychological approaches, and their effectiveness across the whole spectrum of mental illness. This is an informative guide and provides a good number of illustrative case studies drawn from many years of clinical practice. Mental illness is difficult territory, but this book impresses as a go-to resource - not a slick read by any means, but giving an all-too-rare Christian perspective on a big subject. -- Christian Bookshop Ossett * http://christianbookshopossett.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/tackling-mental-illness-together.html *Publisher: IVPISBN: 978-1-78359-559-4Pages: 208Price: £9.99BUY THIS BOOK » Geoff Thomas, in his recommendation of this title, writes: ‘This is a unique book, coming from a qualified, experienced and deeply thoughtful man, dealing with a subject demanding much insight, compassion and also plain speaking’. Alan Thomas is a consultant psychiatrist and church elder. He knows that churches find within their congregations all sorts of people and are often perplexed in dealing with them. ‘Is this man mentally ill? Perhaps he’s depressed? Should we tell him that he needs professional help? If he is receiving this, should we back off from trying to help him ourselves?’ This book gives clear biblical guidance on these matters. Mental disorders are on a spectrum, from the almost unnoticeable to the desperately serious. At the lower end of this, the author believes, churches can and should do much. Indeed, sometimes loving, prayerful care by Christians is all that the person needs. Christian leaders are well equipped to give such help. He wants us all to have confidence to do what we can. Psychiatry defines a person’s abnormal behaviour as a disorder. Consequently, everyday stress can be deemed a mental disorder. The author contends that mental illness is a behavioural syndrome which is caused by something else: either physical damage in the brain or outside pressure. Stress may cause mental disorder. Genetic factors plus life experience can tip anyone into stress-related illness, but we each have different tipping-points. Bad behaviour is not illness (although it may be caused by it). Depression has become a hugely inflated diagnosis. ‘Our society has allowed psychiatry to roll its tanks onto ministerial territory’ (p.32). Rather, ‘When someone becomes mentally ill and specialist input is needed from health services, the church should not withdraw. The input of Christians should be an important component of the care of the mentally ill’ (p.85). Church leaders and psychiatrists have complementary, overlapping roles. Sometimes people in clinical trials get better even when they are only receiving the placebo. The reason being that they have contact with research nurses and receive from them kindness, understanding and sympathy. How much more should they receive this help from Christian believers! One useful treatment for mental problems is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). The patient is taught to think about their thoughts and actions and what they should change. Is not this what we should all practice all the time, even upon ourselves, applying what we know from the Scriptures (e.g. Psalm 42 and 43)? The book is written from a Reformed perspective. It is readable and not without humour. It is full of case-studies demonstrating that the approaches which are outlined are indeed effective. A potential improvement would have been the inclusion of an index. Every pastor should read this excellent book. It should also be in every church library so that it can be read by anyone who has contact with the mentally ill or the depressed. John Palmer, Leigh * Evangelical Times *

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