Clinical pastoral supervision and the theology of Charles Gerkin

by O'Connor, Thomas St. James

"In the last twenty years, the number of texts written on clinical pastoral supervision has accelerated. Thomas St. James O'Connor analyzes these texts, nearly 300 of them, in light of three fundamental questions about the praxis of clinical pastoral supervision: (1) What is distinctive about the praxis? (2) What is an appropriate theological method for the praxis? and (3) What is an adequate praxis? In doing so, he formulates three approaches: the social science, the hermeneutic and the special interest." "Looking at the theology of Charles Gerkin, a pastoral theologian and family therapist, O'Connor develops a conversation between Gerkin's theology and the texts. The theological methods in the three approaches are critiqued and Gerkin's praxis/theory/praxis methods is endorsed. Case examples are used throughout to illustrate theory and issues discussed and to aid in the presentation of an adequate praxis."--BOOK JACKET.