The Minister as Diagnostician: Personal Problems in Pastoral Perspective

A classic and must-read if one is to work in an institutional setting. Some people maybe put-off buy the jargon but it does help to solidify basic principles of chaplain visits. With this said, I think many parish pastors may not appreciate the more clinical nature and style. However, there is the common ground of continuing to listen beyond one's "words". We servants are to listen to the heart, as well as the words, and this book attempts the reader to create more meaningful and clearer encounters when paying visits.

Pruyser's small, easily read book is packed with both a conceptual framework and a distinct seven-dimension scheme for diagnosing spiritual issues. It is particularly useful for ministers working with people whose lives are complicated by illness, injury, addiction, or traumatic memories, or whose spiritual journeys don't follow an expected path. A second group to benefit from this book would be healthcare providers who want to learn how to engage more helpfully with patients for whom spirituality is a significant factor affecting their well-being. Pruyser explores several important distinctions: * Example: The distinction between "diagnosis" and "labeling," contrasting Karl Meninger's enlightening concept of co-diagnosis, in which the patient and professional come to a shared understanding of the patient's situation, with the often demeaning experience of labeling, where the patient/parishioner is given a label by a doctor or clergy member. * Example: The distinction between "religious judgment" and "spiritual diagnosis." Religious judgment typically focuses on how a person's beliefs and behavior compare to a religion's expectations; it may be expressed about someone within or outside the group. Spiritual diagnosis focuses on the quality of the person's spiritual experience and its interaction with their physical, emotional and social well-being. Spiritual diagnosis will identify one's spiritual strengths and resources as well as areas of difficulty and vulnerability that need attention. * Example: The distinction between spiritual and psychological authority and language. Pruyser, a psychologist, wrote at a time when ministers were developing a new appreciation for the insights of psychology; some were adopting psychological language and abandoning religious language. He challenges ministers to be clear about their base of authority and to reclaim their own language in exploring and describing the human condition. The seven dimensions of spirituality he identifies are described in spiritual and experiential language. The Minister as Diagnostician is a thought provoking guide for those who want to sharpen their ability to diagnose spiritual issues in people for whom they care. It is especially useful for those who work in multi-faith environments and who need both a clear and non-parochial language to communicate their understandings. The Minister as Diagnostician is not a biblical treatise, nor does it claim to be. Pruyser's base of authority is that of a psychologist and educator who learned to appreciate the contribution of an excellent chaplain to the interdisciplinary care team in the mental hospital where he worked. Pruyser's inclusion of ministers in his list of professionals was intended as a compliment to the professionalism of that chaplain and others in an environment where ministers were generally marginalized. My bias as a reviewer is that of a chaplain who has used Pruyser's work as the foundation for spiritual diagnosis wit

Paul Pruyser, in "The Minister as Diagnostician" gives an insightful view into the challenges, struggles and questions of ultimate meaning that hospital patients face. The purpose of the book is not a biblical exegesis exercise, but rather to help pastors and chaplains draw on the disciplines of spirituality and psychology to gain a deeper understanding of what patients, familiy members and hospital staff go through. Pruyser's book is a pioneering effort in this respect, because next to Anton Boisen's work in the 1940's and 50's, this book is one of the few that adopts an interpretive rather than prescriptive approach toward pastoral care. In a nutshell, Pruyser seems to be saying that if we are to be effective in our pastoral care, we must first have a grasp on what situation the patient and his or her family are in- what are their resources for support? where do they locate ultimate meaning and hope? what are their challenges? What pastoral resources can be mobilized to address these needs?Pruyser provides an extremely helpful model and template for understanding the spirutal needs of the patients to whom we minister. For those of us who make pastoral care visits, particularly in the hospital, on a regular basis- this book is tremendously helpful food for thought. If you are looking for a book of proof texts on the basis for pastoral care, however- that is not what this book is all about. Remember, Pruyser's approach is descriptive, rather than prescriptive. This book is an excellent pastoral care resource for chaplains, pastors and pastoral care visitors. I have used it in my work as a hospital chaplain and I would highly recommend it.