by Richard Dayringer
page 1-2
by David Oler
page 3-13
Pastoral supervision is conceptualized as a compassionate redemptive intervention intended for the empowerment of the trainee to examine his or her operational theology. The trainee's overcoming personal idolatry, defined as "anything that is raised to an absolute" (Merle Jordan), which enables his or her emerging autonomous clinical functioning, fosters parallel enhanced freedom and healing for the client.
by Andrew B. Starky
page 15-47
This paper explores the relationship between attachment and faith. John Bowlby's attachment theory provides pastoral counsellors with a method for understanding patterns of human interaction. Attachment styles which develop during childhood shape adult relationships though these styles are not fixed and can be made more secure with pastoral counselling. The literature on child and adult attachment is surveyed and theological reflections and applications for pastoral counseling are included. The attachment dynamics within James Fowler's faith development theories are explored and an argument is made for a connection between attachment to God and the complex of atonement theories developed by F. W. Dillistone. Conclusions are that attachment theory can be grounded within contemporary theological discourse. It provides fresh insights on faith development theory and is applicable to pastoral counselling.
by Robert R. Fournier
page 49-74
Using reference to an earlier article by this author, Lester argues contrarily that suicide may be a valuable and meaningful act of self-fulfillment in life. In response to Lester, it is argued that suicide is an act which invariably represents an unhealthiness in life - an "out-of-touch-ness" with the reality of Truth, suffering and self. Clarification of misinterpretations and misleading inferences by Lester of this author's remarks are discussed. Implications for counseling and pastoral counseling are also discussed. A case example with suggestions for a "life-affirming" counseling perspective is presented as a potentially valuable means for suicide prevention and problem-solving with clients who are at risk for suicide.
Valuing the Intersubjective: Reflections on Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory, by Jay R. Greenberg and Stephen A. Mitchell
by William S. Schmidt
page 75-80
page 81-92
Transcribed by Emma McCulloch
27 May 1999