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Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-Term Structured Model
Therapeutic counseling in a Christian context can be highly effective when it maintains narrowly focused goals in a time-limited setting. The details of this proven model of pastoral counseling are described in this practical guide.
This second edition of Strategic Pastoral Counseling has been thoroughly revised and includes two new chapters. Benner includes helpful case studies, a new appendix on contemporary ethical issues, and updated chapter bibliographies. His study will continue to serve clergy and students well as a valued practical handbook on pastoral care and counseling.
This second edition of Strategic Pastoral Counseling has been thoroughly revised and includes two new chapters. Benner includes helpful case studies, a new appendix on contemporary ethical issues, and updated chapter bibliographies. His study will continue to serve clergy and students well as a valued practical handbook on pastoral care and counseling.
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 1992
106 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
David G. Benner
43Ìýbooks175ÌýfollowersDavid G. Benner (PhD, York University; postdoctoral studies, Chicago Institute of Psychoanalysis) is an internationally known depth psychologist, author, spiritual guide, and personal transformation coach. He currently serves as Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Spirituality at the Psychological Studies Institute, Richmont Graduate University. He has authored or edited more than twenty books, including Soulful Spirituality and Strategic Pastoral Counseling
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 15, 2025
Loved this one. Short, sweet, significant. Foundational reading for any minister.
March 17, 2023
A really helpful book in offering an approach to pastoral counseling that takes into account the uniqueness this type of counseling has when compared to other types. It will be a reference book for sure.
August 17, 2020
helpful. not groundbreaking, but easy to read, straightforward, and practical.
September 13, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was required reading for a class and I had fairly low expectations as too often Christianity's response to life's struggles is either to blame it on sin and condemn the person or word vomit scripture and comfortless platitudes. Instead, Benner gives a great framework on how to counsel as a minister or pastor and when to refer to more in depth medical or psychological treatment. Benner tackles some of the ways collectively that religious leaders have caused harm as well as setting forth guidelines to help prevent emotional burnout.
"Everything we know about the dynamics of therapeutic conversation indicates that a non-judgmental attitude of accepting love is foundational to effective counseling. But this does not mean that the conviction of sin does not or should not take place. Rather, it means the conviction of sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Genuine conviction is always the inner accomplishment of God's Spirit. The best a pastor can accomplish by condemning sin is neurotic feelings of guilt, which are a poor substitute for genuine conviction of sin." (p. 69)
Imagine how Christianity would look today, if this was the primary lens through which pastors (and subsequently all Christians) engaged with those they felt were "sinning" for the last 20 years.
"Everything we know about the dynamics of therapeutic conversation indicates that a non-judgmental attitude of accepting love is foundational to effective counseling. But this does not mean that the conviction of sin does not or should not take place. Rather, it means the conviction of sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Genuine conviction is always the inner accomplishment of God's Spirit. The best a pastor can accomplish by condemning sin is neurotic feelings of guilt, which are a poor substitute for genuine conviction of sin." (p. 69)
Imagine how Christianity would look today, if this was the primary lens through which pastors (and subsequently all Christians) engaged with those they felt were "sinning" for the last 20 years.
April 15, 2019
A helpful structure for pastoral counseling
Strategic Pastoral counseling is a very organized and clear approach to pastoral counseling and offers many practical steps for the busy pastor to ensure that life is not consumed with counseling appointments while also being available to do counseling. I did different with several of the details of the approach which I felt was very light in the application of the Bible to a person’s life.
Strategic Pastoral counseling is a very organized and clear approach to pastoral counseling and offers many practical steps for the busy pastor to ensure that life is not consumed with counseling appointments while also being available to do counseling. I did different with several of the details of the approach which I felt was very light in the application of the Bible to a person’s life.
March 30, 2021
This book was really helpful for working out a structure for pastoral care and counseling. I found it to be well balanced, both affirming the unique spiritual perspective that a pastor can give, while also acknowledging the wealth of resources and information available in the professional counseling world. Benner works to create a short, simple, and effective model that gleans from both of those spaces. The case studies in the final two chapters were also very helpful examples.
April 10, 2020
This book gives a good structured model for the pastor to base his counseling ministry off of. I disagree with some points and his suggested use of scripture seems a bit lacking. Also, I found the book to be a little outdated for today. My reason for reading was as a textbook in a basic pastoral counseling class.
August 19, 2018
I liked this OK. It seemed a bit feely which kind of gives me the screaming willies. But I very much appreciated his focus on setting and maintaining goals in the counseling process, an element which is often lacking in other similar treatments of Christian counseling.
March 17, 2020
This book offers sound, practical advice for engaging in pastoral counseling. The first 100 pages are theory and practical strategies, while the last 50 pages present to case studies.
The writing is concise and clear, and the strategies presented are easily adapted to a real ministry setting.
The writing is concise and clear, and the strategies presented are easily adapted to a real ministry setting.
July 24, 2021
This book is a valuable resource for pastors that offers clear, simple steps for counseling. It is comprehensive in both theory and practicality without being long-winded, and it’s structured in a way that makes it easy to reference later.
A good book for pastors to keep on the shelf.
A good book for pastors to keep on the shelf.
May 18, 2023
Thanks for the guidelines
I appreciate the additional reading and reference material. Thank you for the case studies and commentaries. This book is very helpful in describing to others the strategies for pastoral counseling and soul care.
I appreciate the additional reading and reference material. Thank you for the case studies and commentaries. This book is very helpful in describing to others the strategies for pastoral counseling and soul care.
December 9, 2024
helpful structure for counseling within the church
Great case study. Helpful examples. I like the commentary on how other people used the model. Would recommend to any pastor trying to incorporate counseling in his/her weekly rhythm.
Great case study. Helpful examples. I like the commentary on how other people used the model. Would recommend to any pastor trying to incorporate counseling in his/her weekly rhythm.
July 12, 2018
Very good manual for pastors to engage in short term but effective counseling.
July 18, 2018
A model for 1 session to 5 sessions short-term pastoral counseling, with examples.
August 14, 2018
Incredibly insightful and useful book for any ministry worker that does not have counseling credentials but still finds themselves in counseling dynamics.
January 31, 2019
I liked this. A good model for pastoral counseling, easy to read, with some good examples
February 7, 2020
A helpful resource and practical model for pastoral counseling. Does a good job identifying the uniqueness, objectives, and structure of pastoral counseling.
May 26, 2021
Balanced and helpful. Appreciate the boundaries drawn between counseling by pastors and counseling by psychologists/therapists/etc.
October 22, 2021
Extremely practical especially with setting boundaries and expectations in pastoral counseling.
December 3, 2021
I thought it was a helpful book. Several takeaways for practical counseling.
May 2, 2023
Helpful and practical. Loved how it gives structure to a short term pastoral counseling sessions.
April 16, 2024
Remarkably simple and sincere with practical guidance
September 28, 2024
wow
The most helpful book I have read thus far on chaplaincy. It has a depth and lived experience about it that resonates with the reader. Would highly recommend.
The most helpful book I have read thus far on chaplaincy. It has a depth and lived experience about it that resonates with the reader. Would highly recommend.
October 5, 2024
Good idea and outline about how to develop a pastoral counseling model
February 20, 2017
Great Read
Very interesting and enriching book. Very current on subject matter. Enjoyed reading this book. It was worth the time. Good.
Very interesting and enriching book. Very current on subject matter. Enjoyed reading this book. It was worth the time. Good.
October 4, 2016
A helpful guide to give structure and purpose to a pastor's counseling. Of course, it needs to be put into practice to actually be of any help, but I found it to be instructive and clarifying. Recommended if counseling is or will be part of your ministry to some extent.
June 23, 2013
Benner's first edition (1992) of this book was written in response to a need as he saw it for a practical guide to short-term counselling aimed at Pastors who counsel. This up dated edition (2003) has benefitted from a more general acceptance of the short-term counselling model and has been rewritten to reflect lessons learned in the intervening eleven years between editions.
The target audience of Benner's work is pastors who counsel as part of the broad scope of their pastoral duties. To a lesser extent he also hopes that this book will also appeal to those preparing for pastoral ministry and lay counsellors operating in the congregational context. Beyond these audiences he has identified non-congregation-based counsellors as potentially benefitting from the content too.
The principle assumption for this book is that given the volume and diversity of demands on the average pastors time, a workable alternative to the traditional long-term counselling model needs be proposed. In response, Beener here outlines a single-issue, focused, 5-session (based on his research) counselling approach. Following a three stage process: encounter, engagement, and disengagement, the "goal is to help people understand their problems� and their lives� in the light of their relationship with God and then to live more fully in the light of this understanding".
With Benner's model there is a distinctive perspective in that it is specifically Christian and pastoral. These qualifiers could limit the appeal and application of Benner's model. However, within this context, having experienced the pressures of the pastoral care role, his argument broadly fits well. He uses frequent citations to reinforce his argument and in some cases such as explaining the restriction to 5 counselling sessions, appears to be research based.
On the Baker Publishing Group website, this book receives 5 reviews/endorsements, the authors of which I am unfamiliar. However it appears having co-authored "Sacred Companions: Spiritual Friendship Direction" (2004) with Dr Larry Crabb, Benner has received by implication, tacit endorsement by a popular, well known author and peer.
The highly defined nature of Benner's counselling model initially frustrated me because in my experience, counselling was more organic and open ended. However, in the context of pastoral counselling, considering for the many demands on time, I can see the benefit of defined time and focus boundaries. The scenarios included near the end of the book gave weight and support to the workability of the model.
This model is particularly relevant to my ministry. Like most people I have have demands placed on my time from within the church, family and other civic organisations and ministries I am involved in. Using this model as the basis of future pastoral counselling situations will help better achieve a more desirable work/life balance.
There is no doubt that from this book I have learned of the potential benefits of better focus and taking a more strategic approach to pastoral counselling. The specificity of time defined boundaries are also very useful. I have also appreciated the focus of bringing the counselling back to a God, helpful.
The target audience of Benner's work is pastors who counsel as part of the broad scope of their pastoral duties. To a lesser extent he also hopes that this book will also appeal to those preparing for pastoral ministry and lay counsellors operating in the congregational context. Beyond these audiences he has identified non-congregation-based counsellors as potentially benefitting from the content too.
The principle assumption for this book is that given the volume and diversity of demands on the average pastors time, a workable alternative to the traditional long-term counselling model needs be proposed. In response, Beener here outlines a single-issue, focused, 5-session (based on his research) counselling approach. Following a three stage process: encounter, engagement, and disengagement, the "goal is to help people understand their problems� and their lives� in the light of their relationship with God and then to live more fully in the light of this understanding".
With Benner's model there is a distinctive perspective in that it is specifically Christian and pastoral. These qualifiers could limit the appeal and application of Benner's model. However, within this context, having experienced the pressures of the pastoral care role, his argument broadly fits well. He uses frequent citations to reinforce his argument and in some cases such as explaining the restriction to 5 counselling sessions, appears to be research based.
On the Baker Publishing Group website, this book receives 5 reviews/endorsements, the authors of which I am unfamiliar. However it appears having co-authored "Sacred Companions: Spiritual Friendship Direction" (2004) with Dr Larry Crabb, Benner has received by implication, tacit endorsement by a popular, well known author and peer.
The highly defined nature of Benner's counselling model initially frustrated me because in my experience, counselling was more organic and open ended. However, in the context of pastoral counselling, considering for the many demands on time, I can see the benefit of defined time and focus boundaries. The scenarios included near the end of the book gave weight and support to the workability of the model.
This model is particularly relevant to my ministry. Like most people I have have demands placed on my time from within the church, family and other civic organisations and ministries I am involved in. Using this model as the basis of future pastoral counselling situations will help better achieve a more desirable work/life balance.
There is no doubt that from this book I have learned of the potential benefits of better focus and taking a more strategic approach to pastoral counselling. The specificity of time defined boundaries are also very useful. I have also appreciated the focus of bringing the counselling back to a God, helpful.
March 15, 2019
An Introduction to “SOUL CARE�
Providing compassion, comfort and clarity to a fellow Christian is a directive. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith� - Galatians 6:10
A great resource for building your Pastoral Counseling knowledge.
Providing compassion, comfort and clarity to a fellow Christian is a directive. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith� - Galatians 6:10
A great resource for building your Pastoral Counseling knowledge.
March 18, 2013
The thrust of the book is that most pastoral counseling can be accomplished in five sessions and then presents a plan for that. He argues that due to pastors training and time constraints, issues that cannot be effectively handled in five counseling sessions should most likely be referred to a trained counselor.
He suggests that 85-89% of pastoral counseling sessions require five or less sessions (with 5 being the average).
He affirms the need and appropriateness of pastoral counseling and provides a model
By focusing on a singular issue as defined by the one seeking counseling
The three stages of pastoral counseling: Encounter, Engagement, disengagement
Tasks of each stage
The Encounter Stage
-Joining and boundary setting
-Exploring the central concerns and relevant history
-Conducting a pastoral diagnosis
-Achieving a mutually agreeable focus for counseling
The Engagement Stage
-Exploring the affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the problem and identifying the resources for coping or change
The Disengagement Stage
-Evaluating progress and assessing remaining concerns
-Arranging a referral (if needed)
-Terminating counseling
"the goal is to help people under- stand their problems� and their lives� in the light of their relationship with God and then to live more fully in the light of this understanding."
The book ends with two case studies with practical application of the model he has presented.
A five session counseling session
And a single session
While I admire his model and direct approach to counseling and his biblical reasoning my problem with the model and so many others is that they are “clinical�. They seem to reinforce all the stereotypes of counseling that I hear. In my experience when people come to me for what I would call counseling they wouldn’t like to think of it that way. They often just want someone they know and respect spiritually to be a listening ear, possibly share some Scriptural truth and pray with them.
Plus the idea of telling those who come to see me that they only have five sessions seems fairly cold also.
The book also contains an appendix titled, “Ethical Considerations in Pastoral Counseling�
He suggests that 85-89% of pastoral counseling sessions require five or less sessions (with 5 being the average).
He affirms the need and appropriateness of pastoral counseling and provides a model
By focusing on a singular issue as defined by the one seeking counseling
The three stages of pastoral counseling: Encounter, Engagement, disengagement
Tasks of each stage
The Encounter Stage
-Joining and boundary setting
-Exploring the central concerns and relevant history
-Conducting a pastoral diagnosis
-Achieving a mutually agreeable focus for counseling
The Engagement Stage
-Exploring the affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the problem and identifying the resources for coping or change
The Disengagement Stage
-Evaluating progress and assessing remaining concerns
-Arranging a referral (if needed)
-Terminating counseling
"the goal is to help people under- stand their problems� and their lives� in the light of their relationship with God and then to live more fully in the light of this understanding."
The book ends with two case studies with practical application of the model he has presented.
A five session counseling session
And a single session
While I admire his model and direct approach to counseling and his biblical reasoning my problem with the model and so many others is that they are “clinical�. They seem to reinforce all the stereotypes of counseling that I hear. In my experience when people come to me for what I would call counseling they wouldn’t like to think of it that way. They often just want someone they know and respect spiritually to be a listening ear, possibly share some Scriptural truth and pray with them.
Plus the idea of telling those who come to see me that they only have five sessions seems fairly cold also.
The book also contains an appendix titled, “Ethical Considerations in Pastoral Counseling�
June 23, 2015
A model for pastoral counseling in 5 sessions or less. Benner argues that pastoral counselors do not have sufficient psychological training for counseling beyond the short-term. However this is not to say that they do not have a valuable contribution to make to the field of counseling. No other counselor has the same background in systematic theology, biblical study and ethics. A pastor's seminary training makes them uniquely equipped to attend to a person's spiritual needs. Benner's model is holistic, focused, limited in scope, and directed. He gives sound advice for empathetic listening, setting counseling goals, etc. I think overall this very helpful, even if it feels stilted in places.
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