Counselling and Spirituality in the Helping Professions

Despite the widely recognised secularisation of professions, an increasing number of practitioners and academics are noting the positive role which spirituality (when adequately integrated) can play in the counselling process. Starting from such observations, the present volume sets out to explore the role of spirituality (Christian spirituality in particular) in the counselling which practitioners in the helping professions offer to their service users. The volume is organized in five main parts, focusing, in turn, on the relationship between spiritual and professional paradigms in the practice of counselling (Part One), specific methods and resources in the counselling process (Part Two), church-related counselling (Part Three), child and family welfare (Part Four), elderly care and end-of-life issues (Part Five).

Dr. Alexandru Neagoe is vice-dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, the West
University of Timisoara, Romania, and associate professor of the Social Work Department, the same university. He is also a pastor of the First Baptist Church, “Betel”, Timisoara, and president of the Areopagus Centre for Christian Studies and Contemporary Culture (www.areopagus.ro). Dr. Neagoe has published numerous books and articles in the areas of theology and social work. He holds a BA and a PhD from Brunel University, London, UK. His PhD thesis, The Trial of the Gospel: An Apologetic Reading of Luke’s Trial Narratives was published by Cambridge University Press in 2002 and reprinted in 2005.