Solution-focused pastoral counseling

the long version

Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling introduces a fresh, effective, and time-saving approach that will benefit pastors overtaxed by counseling demands. Dr. Charles A. Kollar shows that counseling need not be long-term to produce dramatic results. In most cases, the solution lies with the counselees themselves. Pastors, apart from therapists, are well equipped to help the counselees discover it and put it in motion speedily and productively. Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling shifts the emphasis from the problem to the strengths, vision, and practical solutions that lie within the individual. Stressing that God is already active in the counselee, Dr. Kollar first lays the theological and theoretical groundwork for short-term counseling. Then he shows how to apply theory to practical, short-term sessions that help people get back on track in their marriage, family living, and other aspects of life. Kollar recognizes that there is a time to refer to a Christian specialist, but he warns against today's ready-referral mindset. What is generally needed, he believes, is neither professional help nor long-term counseling, but a new paradigm based on Christian identity. Like "new wineskins," Christians are fashioned not for the old wine of problem-oriented therapy, but the new wine of God's life-changing grace. - from publisher's description.