Counseling Families Across the Stages of Life: Handbook for Pastors and Other Helping Professionals

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Summary: A HANDBOOK FOR CLERGY COUNSELING FAMILIES
Review: A HANDBOOK FOR CLERGY COUNSELING FAMILIES
Counseling Families Across the Lifespan: A Handbook for Pastors and Other Religious Professionals is designed to be a text for those in training for pastoral ministry, as well as a practical resource for women and men engaged in ministry with families. The volume addresses family transition issues (e.g., becoming a parent, divorce, sudden job loss, chronic illness, retirement, untimely death) and related mental health problems that may be experienced over the lifespan. In this time of widespread concern about the demise of the family,it is especially important that pastors and others in ministry understand how to help guide persons through life passages. Part 1 offers information about the important role that clergy and the faith community serve in the mental health care of families. This section spells out the need for special expertise by pastors and other religious professionals about how to recognize and address important transitional lifespan issues and related family problems. The scientific evidence that non-punitive, nurturing religious beliefs and practices serve both preventive and healing functions is summarized. Finally, there is a review of the factors that cultivate strong and resilient families in spite of adversity. The heart of the book is found in Part 2, which is presented in a format that uses real life situations while highlighting practical implications for pastoral care. They reflect recent research on relevant issues and recognize that the demands on a family change over time in the lifecycle. The case studies are multidisciplinary in approach, integrating clinical knowledge in pastoral care, psychology, family medicine, psychiatry, nursing, gerontology, sociology, social work, and marriage and family therapy, along with current scientific findings on the role of religion in mental health care. The volume recognizes that the difficulties that families face do not stand in isolation from one another but are interrelated. For example, the chapters involving chronic illness also address caregiver stress and depression. The book is designed so that a reader can easily locate information on specific issues and related mental health problems for which families seek pastoral counsel. It is a practical, easy-to-use guide on how to assess problems and how to respond to them. The table of contents provides the subject of 20 situations that illustrate common issues experienced by families. Each case provides an example of a family member with a specific problem who is in need of help. Included in each chapter is information about how a pastor or colleague in ministry would assess the problem, what aspects of the case are most important, how to identify the major issues, specific directions about what the pastor and congregation can do, when to refer for professional assistance, and information about resources that can provide help. National organizations (often with toll-free numbers and internet addresses) that supply information and support for families facing these issues are identified for each concern addressed. Cross-cultural aspects are noted and discussed, as well. Technical terms are defined in the glossary at the end of the book. The text is written for people of all faiths, with an appreciation for the richness of the intergenerational and multicultural diversity found in religious communities. The authors are people of faith with specialties in mental health. Dr. Weaver is a clinical psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and ordained United Methodist minister who has served rural and urban parishes. He has written over 80 scientific articles and book chapters and has co-authored 7 books. Dr. Revilla is a United Methodist laywoman and developmental psychologist who specializes in working with ethnic families. She also teaches at the University of Hawaii in the Ethnic Studies Department. Dr. Koenig is associate professor of psychiatry and internal medicine, as well as director of the Center for the Study Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University Medical Center. He has written over 170 scientific articles and book chapters and has authored or co-authored 10 books.

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Summary: Counseling Families Across the Stages of Life: Handbook for
Review: I bought this book expecting an intelligent, thoughtful, and informative textbook for my students. I could not believe how simple and atrocious the writing was. All the vignettes were absolutely tedious and vapid. The writing style was horrible. I could not stand giving it to my students; I thought it would have been an insult to their intelligence. I cannot believe the writer has a Ph.D. I guess the intellectual standards for higher education have really diminished.
As far as information, the facts given in this book are about as informative as a rather cursory Internet search would be. Overall, this book is a completely pathetic waste of money. I would never recommend it.

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Summary: Counseling Families Across the Stages of Life: Handbook for
Review: The previous reviewer must be the author himself, because no one else with half a brain would value this idiotic, poorly written book. I can't imagine anyone unintelligent enough to learn anything from this book, which seems to be written for first graders. It is a totally unhelpful, waste of money.