One-stop reference work for clergy, pastoral workers, and all those in caring professions for whom healing and spiritual growth in the midst of daily life challenges is important.

The Bloomsbury Guide to Pastoral Care provides a framework for reflection on pastoral care practice and identifies frontier learning from the new and challenging practical contexts which are important in pastoral care research today. In this collection of essays from leading practitioner-scholars, Bernadette Flanagan and Sharon Thornton set out core principles underpinning professional identity and the practice of pastoral care in rapidly changing social settings. Such pastoral challenges as, developing compassionate and effective companioning to those who have suffered trauma, torture, catastrophic events, social disintegration, the moral wounds of war and cultural dislocation are treated with insight and deep care. The new frontiers of pastoral care in more familiar circumstances such as family, health settings where patients facing life-challenging medical events and multi-cultural communities are also explored. With contributions from Kevin Egan, Michael O'Sullivan SJ, Rita Nakashima Brock and Julia Prinz VDMF, The Bloomsbury Guide to Pastoral Care is an essential reference for the theory and practice of pastoral care.

A scholarly yet accessible introduction to Christian Spirituality. What is Christian Spirituality? How does it relate to non-Christian traditions? Where does it arise from and where is it going? These are some of the key questions addressed in this innovative new guide from Bloomsbury. The Bloomsbury Guide to Christian Spirituality is written by foremost academics in their fields who distill their knowledge for a wide intelligent audience. They do this with huge skill and attention to the needs of modern readers. Appealing equally to those studying the tradition for religious formation or those wishing to acquaint themselves with this fascinating subject, this guide is destined to become an essential text in the field.

Written by a leading expert in the field of inclusion, Leading on Pastoral Care assists leaders and SENCOs in primary and secondary schools in managing the most difficult aspects of providing effective pastoral care, such as paperwork, time, confrontational parents and Ofsted. 'Sobel writes in an engaging style that reflects his commitment to supporting schools in developing effective strategies to deal with emotional trauma and complex needs.... This is an excellent book.' SEN Magazine Drawing on research and his extensive experience in leading a team that has worked with over 1,000 schools, Daniel Sobel presents tried-and-tested strategies, tools and tips to support the welfare of and improve outcomes for the most challenged and vulnerable students, all backed by case studies and real-life examples. Pastoral care – being responsible for the welfare and progress of all students, particularly the most vulnerable – is an essential part of any leadership or SENCO role. However, one of the most significant challenges in providing such care is being able to manage resources as well as staff, students, parents and external agencies, especially when time and money are scarce. It is all too easy for schools to expend time and money to support their most vulnerable students, but there are many solutions that can be put into practice to provide the best pastoral care as efficiently and effectively as possible. This book is essential reading for all primary and secondary middle leaders, senior leaders and SENCOs who wish to provide the best support possible for their most vulnerable students, all while reducing pressure, stress and workload for themselves and their staff.

In every UK classroom, an estimated three children suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem. Proactive Pastoral Care is a vital guide to enable secondary teachers to empower their students to make healthy life choices and look after their wellbeing, both in school and beyond. With practical, research-based activities and resources for tutor time, assemblies, Relationships and Sex Education and PSHE lessons, this book puts student wellbeing at the heart of the agenda. It also includes a foreword by Dr Pooky Knightsmith, an internationally renowned mental health educator, speaker and author. Pastoral care expert Maria O'Neill explores several aspects of student wellbeing, from community building and parental engagement to e-safety and caring for mental health. Maria introduces refreshing, proactive techniques that can be put into practice straightaway to create a supportive learning environment. Backed up by academic research, Maria's easy-to-follow techniques mean any teacher, form tutor or head of year can feel confident in their approach and offer students the pastoral support they need.

How can teachers deal with the growing pastoral needs of pupils aged 11-16 in schools? This critical guide explores the pastoral role which teachers play in schools, and argues that today's schools continue to offer children an invaluable source of support. This guide explores a number of serious pastoral issues, drawing on contemporary research to outline the impact which these issues can have on children aged 11-16 and offering practical strategies for providing support on a whole-school and individual classroom level. Consideration is also given to how schools can use the curriculum proactively to help pupils be more prepared to deal with serious pastoral issues. Topics dealt with include: - supporting children who are experiencing separation or divorce - helping to prevent and deal with bullying, including cyber-bullying - identifying and responding to possible child abuse - understanding the impact of domestic violence - supporting children through bereavement - responding to self-harm and suicide This is the essential guide for those training to teach in the secondary sector and for practicing teachers who have recently taken on pastoral responsibilities.

Commissioned by the Blanton-Peale Institute, Cultivating Wholeness is a practical, comprehensive, contemporary guide to community care and counseling. Margaret Zipse Kornfeld, a pastoral psychotherapist for almost thirty years, focuses on wholeness, the dynamics change, an inclusive understanding of spirituality, the caregiver/ counselor, and on community as not merely the context for healing but also the means by which healing happens.

Many men have the skills to lead a church, but only some are called. Dave Harvey helps men considering pastoral ministry to see God's active role in the process of discerning their calling. God's Word offers a clear framework for evaluating one's call, especially within the context of community. Harvey offers six diagnostic questions to help prospective pastors process their calling, and what they should be doing now if they aren't sure. Illustrated with personal and historical stories, Harvey explores biblical and practical principles for determining the pastoral call. Over the past twenty-four years of ministry, Harvey has enjoyed assisting many men in discerning whether they are called into ministry. This book will guide you through that all-important process with wisdom and confidence in God's faithfulness in your life.

The greatest asset which people in pastoral care offer in a caring relationship is themselves, or to be more precise, the aspects of self which they have reflected upon. Offering oneself to other people in order to provide companionship along the road of life, especially when the particular stage on the journey is one of anticipated or actual loss, is an act which is both challenging and yet potentially life enhancing for a carer. The purpose of this book is to offer an aid to those who seek to understand themselves better with a view to enhancing the quality of spiritual and pastoral care they offer. Here the reference point for reflexivity is the caring relationship. Yet as we are fundamentally the same beings in personal and professional relationships, readers may also find stimulus to reflect on what they bring to a variety of relationships including that with the Sacred and, indeed, themselves.

This book explores the relationship between the practices of pastoral care and the practices of spiritual direction with the aim of enabling pastoral caregivers to draw upon the guiding principles, resources, and techniques of spiritual direction within the Christian tradition. With an emphasis on both "practice" and "presence", the book reclaims the tradition of "soul care" for the pastoral ministry, thereby complementing the medical, or crisis intervention, model of pastoral care with a wellness/growth model of pastoral care.Listening for the Soul: -- Challenges clergy to take seriously the relationship between pastoral care and spiritual direction.-- Integrates theological and psychological insights with issues of spiritual life and formation.-- Includes a chapter on the spiritual formation of children.-- Provides practical guidance for integrating spiritual direction with pastoral care.-- Tends to the pastoral caregivers own needs for spiritual deepening.-- Includesreflection,questions and case studies to enable the text to function on both the individual reader and classroom levels.