Yale University Library Research Guides: Practical Theology: Select Issues

Grief and Pastoral Care

What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say by H. Norman Wright An easy-to-follow handbook on how to respond to others during and after crises.
The Ministry of Lament: Caring for the Bereaved by Gene Fowler Addresses the relationship between bereavement and the Christian faith in the service of caring ministry. Throughout the book, Fowler brings the psalms of lament into dialogue with a contemporary understanding of mourning so that the entire grief process can be addressed theologically.
Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry by Melissa Kelley Using a metaphor of grief as a mosaic, Kelley presents contemporary grief theory and research, integrated with important theological, religious, and ministerial perspectives.
Grief, Transition and Loss: A Pastor's Practical Guide by Wayne E. Oates The book covers a variety of losses--illness, death, separation and divorce, and even a range of work related issues--with sensitivity and grace, and equips caregivers with the tools needed to respond in helpful and lifegiving ways.

Trauma and Moral Injury

Moral Injury among Returning Veterans by Joshua Morris Drawing from liberation theologies, ideology critique, and Antonio Gramsci's advocacy for the working class, this book argues that military chaplains are uniquely positioned to help returning soldiers resist the amplification of existing moral injury.
Trauma-Sensitive Theology: Thinking Theologically in the Era of Trauma (Online) by Jennifer Baldwin Through the lenses of contemporary traumatology, somatics, and the Internal Family Systems model of psychotherapy, the text offers a framework for seeing trauma and its impact in the lives of individuals, communities, society, and within Scripture.
Recovering from un-Natural Disasters: A Guide for Pastors and Congregations after Violence and Trauma by Laurie Kraus; David Holyan; Bruce Wismer A handbook for pastors and church leaders of communities who could or perhaps already have experienced an un-natural disaster, such as gun violence, suicides, or sexual abuse. In this book, readers explore the four phases of human-caused disaster -- Devastation and Heroism, Disillusionment, Reforming, and Wisdom -- and receive step-by-step suggestions to use with their faith community during the recovery process.
Bearing the Unbearable: Trauma, Gospel, and Pastoral Care by Deborah van Deusen Hunsinger In this book Deborah van Deusen Hunsinger weaves together threads from the fields of psychology and pastoral theology as she explores the impact of trauma on people's lives and offers practical strategies and restorative practices for dealing with it

Addiction

Addiction and Pastoral Care (Online) by Sonia Waters Weaves together personal stories, research, and theological reflection to offer helpful tools for ministers, counselors, chaplains, and anyone else called to care pastorally for those struggling with addiction.
Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling by Geri Miller Presenting a pragmatic counseling framework rather than trying to reconcile differing theories, this helpful text gives readers the knowledge and guidance needed to choose appropriate techniques and best practices for treating addicted individuals.