Pamela Cooper-White
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By: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Psychology & Counseling -> Counseling -> General
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Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Counseling
Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2
Average rating: 5.0 of 5
Highly Recommended 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.
This work appears to be the most cutting-edge, sophisticated text available on the integration of self-development, counseling technique, and Christian theological reflection. The theoretical and philosophical base is highly relational and contextual, as evidenced by consistent attention to matters of intersubjectivity, multiculturalism, and ethics. The author uses the psychodynamic rubric of transference and countertransference to unearth the hidden power of counselor-client interaction - a power that has the potential for great healing or destruction. The overall theme and thesis of the book is this: In the counseling context, therapists and ministers have the high calling to use their `selves' in ways that are responsible, reflective, respectful and real. This necessitates a commitment to personal and spiritual growth through self-awareness and clinical consultation.The first two chapters provide a detailed history of countertransference in the psychodynamic and pastoral care fields. These chapters illustrate the general attitudinal shift from fearful shunning to responsive acceptance of countertransference in helping relationships. Chapter three continues to lay theoretical groundwork through a concise examination of relational, postmodern philosophy and it's implications for human communication and theological reflection. Chapters four through six delve into the complexity of "understanding one's personal issues and emotional reactions" in helping relationships. Extremely helpful and well-written case studies are used to illustrate and apply the concepts to highly believable real-life situations. The consistent theme throughout these chapters is that the counselor's emotional responses can function as either healing or harmful therapeutic junctures. The final chapter integrates the concepts into a theological framework that is compelling and relevant.
The intended audience includes persons in the fields of pastoral care and ministry, social work, counseling psychology or therapy. Overall, this book is highly recommended as an essential resource for therapist self-development.
Editorial Review:
The deeper dynamics of pastoral care and counseling-- Understanding one’s personal issues and emotional reactions—one’s "countertransference"—has long been recognized as a core competency in ministry. Now new understandings of intersubjectivity, mutual influence, shared wisdom (both conscious and unconscious), and multicultural dynamics in the caring relationship are bringing promising new possibilities and challenges to pastoral practice.
Employing these insights, in this groundbreaking book Pamela Cooper-White offers a new relational paradigm for pastoral assessment and theological reflection. She uses the caregiver’s own responses and feelings as a primary instrument for deepening discernment and better care. She innovatively combines postmodern, psychoanalytic, and theological perspectives with illuminating case studies to illustrate this new use of the self in pastoral care, counseling, and psychotherapy.
