Listening is Healing: A Practical Guide for Pastoral Care

This book describes in an-easy-to read style how to listen to people who need to tell their story. Many are hurt, confused, afraid, or burdened by past experiences. They want someone to talk to who can help them understand what is robbing them of emotional or spiritual well-being. The book provides a dos and don'ts checklist for this effective kind of listening. It identifies what robs people of peace and the sources of their disquiet. It gives guidance as to how listeners can respond to what is said in a way that releases the storyteller and restores wholeness. It outlines the specific role of prayer as a healing and renewing tool for establishing newness of life, and it gives practical steps for those seeking to establish a listening ministry within their own Christian communities. It is an essential read for anyone engaged in pastoral care at any level.