Practical Theology books and resources

Spirituality, Ethics and Care

Simon Robinson

Spirituality, Ethics and Care provides guidance on how to integrate spirituality and ethics in professional and voluntary care.
The author argues that the strong connections between moral meaning and spirituality are often not reflected in the health and social care literature. Using case studies and examples from everyday situations, such as end of life decisions, conjoined twins, heart conditions, social work, mental health and emergency care practice, the author provides a practical framework for incorporating spirituality into ethical decision-making and care.

Ageing, Disability and Spirituality

Addressing the Challenge of Disability in Later Life

Edited by Elizabeth MacKinlay

This collection examines theological and ethical issues of ageing, disability and spirituality, with an emphasis on how ageing affects people who have mental health and developmental disabilities.
The book presents ways of moving towards more effective relationships between carers and older people with disabilities; ways in which to connect compassionately and beneficially with the person's spiritual dimension. The contributors highlight the importance of recognizing the personhood of all people regardless of age and of disability, whatever form it takes. They identify factors inherent in personhood and provide ways of affirming and promoting spiritual well-being for older people with disabilities.

The Art of Helping Others

Being Around, Being There, Being Wise

Heather Smith and Mark Smith

When searching for someone to help them reflect upon and improve their lives, people tend to be drawn towards those who are compassionate, committed and wise. This book is aimed at those who recognise these qualities in themselves and wish to develop their capacity to engage with and help others.

Children and Spirituality

Searching for Meaning and Connectedness

Brendan Hyde

Brendan Hyde identifies four characteristics of children's spirituality: the felt sense, integrating awareness, weaving the threads of meaning, and spiritual questing . These characteristics can be observed in children if those who work with them know what to look for and are alert to the time, place and space in which children find themselves.

Prayer in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Exploring a Hidden Meaningful Dimension

Peter Madsen Gubi

Within mainstream counselling and psychotherapy there is growing interest in the spiritual dimension of counselling. Prayer is at the centre of most spirituality and prayer is important to many people's psychological well-being.

The Spiritual Dimension of Childhood

Kate Adams, Brendan Hyde and Richard Woolley

This book takes an in-depth look at spirituality and its continual expression in children, to support those working with children in developing their own perceptions and interaction with them.
The authors outline exactly what is understood by contemporary spirituality, and discuss the importance of context in a consideration of spirituality. They explore key issues in understanding children's spirituality under three broad headings: children's voices - how they are often lost in the context of spirituality and what the implications of that loss are; children's worlds - how children draw on the spiritual as a means of addressing notions of meaning and value in life; and children's lives - how context shapes the spiritual dimension.

Recovery from Depression Using the Narrative Approach

A Guide for Doctors, Complementary Therapists and Mental Health Professionals

Damien Ridge

Recovery from Depression Using the Narrative Approach explores patients' stories of depression, recovery and useful treatments. Drawing on new and original research, Damien Ridge examines the therapeutic value of engaging with a patient's personal story, or 'narrative' to capture the...