Taking Care: Monitoring Power Dynamics and Relational Boundaries in Pastoral Care and Counseling

I found this book to be extremely helpful. As a victim/survivor of clergy sexual abuse, the book offered a critical understanding of the psychological dynamics of both personality and relationships that create at-risk environments for boundary violations to occur. The exploration of empathy and empowerment and the gift/burden of our unconscious and subconscious operatives are well done by the author. My recovery and healing is testimony to the powerful dynamic of empathy and empowerment when experienced as a healthy interaction complete with restorative qualities which then, in turn, offer insight into the evil nature of the abusive relationship. I recommend this book to anyone considering entering the pastoral ministry as a means of provoking introspection and reflection into one's motives and behaviors as a means of prevention of possible breach in the vows of sacred trust one is required to take in such a vocation.

Dr. Doehring, a member of the faculty of Boston University School of Theology and also the Danielsen Institute, is an intelligent, skilled and above all very conscientious and warm-hearted pastoral counsellor. She writes in a very clear style that anyone will be able to understand, and in a way that people can relate to. This book is highly recommended for those who want a non-technical work on counselling psychology from a Christian perspective. Look out also for a new book she is working on, which may be out in 2002.