Part of the Resources for Christian Counseling series, this volume discusses self-talk, imagery, and prayer and tells how each of these can be applied to a variety of counseling problems.

Prayer in Counseling The Practitioners Handbook is a bold apologetic for seeing greater use of prayer with the practice of counseling and psychotherapy in faith-based community, pastoral, and mainstream counseling settings. Using the evidence-based results of the best research studies and client surveys on the efficacy of prayer, the choice to integrate prayer with therapy is philosophically and empirically analyzed from every vantage. Practical examples, key filtering questions, and tried and true guidelines help the reader find a balance between the two extremes of avoidance/neglect of prayer as well as excessive/unwise usage. Gathering the best wisdom from the existing literature, the author builds a strong case to view prayer and counseling as unique but complementary avenues for dynamic change in a persons life. In light of potential counseling dilemmas and the need for healthy accountability Prayer in Counseling provides a roadmap to navigate the challenging ethical considerations of when and how to integrate prayer into therapy. Scriptural hindrances to effective prayer are identified and then contrasted against biblical principles and practical direction to make prayer a powerful, healing, and successful spiritual intervention in the counseling arena.

Mark R. McMinn is Professor of Psychology and Director of Integration in the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. He was previously on faculty at Wheaton College in Illinois, where he was the Rech Professor of Psychology from 1996 to 2006. Mark is a licensed psychologist in Illinois and is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is Past-President of the APA's Psychology of Religion division. His other books include Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling (2008), Integrative Psychotherapy (coauthored with Clark D. Campbell, 2007), Finding Our Way Home (2005), Why Sin Matters (2004), Care for the Soul (coedited with Timothy R. Phillips, 2001), and Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling (1996). Mark and his wife, Lisa--a sociologist and author--live in rural Oregon. They have three grown daughters.

Effective counseling depends on mastering basic communication skills. In this integrative, classroom-ready text, Elisabeth Nesbit Sbanotto, Heather Davediuk Gingrich and Fred Gingrich break these skills into manageable microskills and connect them to insights and practices from Scripture, theology and spiritual formation.

This proven guide in pastoral counseling has been extensively expanded and revised by the author to include recent developments and research, new resources, and attention to newly urgent needs such as AIDS, eating disorders, homosexuality, and violence. Written with clarity and sensitivity, this volume builds on biblical foundations and the best resources of professional psychology. It reflects the insights the author has gained from many years of Christian counseling. New Sections include: The Legal, Ethical and Moral Issues in Counseling The Multicultural, Multiracial Issues in Counseling Conflict and Relationships Dealing with Death and Grief Alcoholism and Other Substance Abuse Crises and Trauma Counseling and Terrorism

A handbook on lay counseling including an overview and how-to information for leaders and lay counselors, Reverend Siang-Yang Tan's helpful book also includes a forward by Gary R. Collins.

This clear and practical resource details 36 common teenage problems that are arranged alphabetically from abuse to suicide to help parents tackle each problem by encouraging them to answer key questions given to them.