The Supervision of Pastoral Care

Book excerpt: This book offers basic information both for persons under supervision and for those supervising them in pastoral care, drawing upon the expertise and experiences of fifteen pastoral supervisors. In describing key aspects, George Bennett discusses the supervisory contract and preparing for supervision; Kathleen Davis introduces methods of working with clinical material; Mark Jensen presents ways to work with life histories; and Alexa Smith provides a summary of student responses to clinical supervision. To expand various kinds of supervision, Darryl Tiller addresses the use of Òself as instrumentÓ; John Lentz considers the supervision of pastoral counseling relationships; Bruce Skaggs describes group supervision; and Carolyn Lindsay presents specific aspects of live supervision. Three chapters address specific problems; Clarence Barton and Amanda Ragland deal with transference and countertransference; Nancy Fontenot examines passivity; and Barbara Sheehan reviews gender issues. Finally, the supervisory model is applied to broader issues; to the supervision of church voulenteers by Grayson Tucker, to supervising teachers in Christian Education programs by Louis Weeks, and to a seminary field education program by editor David A. Steere. This book is a valuable asset for professors, working supervisors, and all persons entering supervision in pastoral care.