Spiritual Interventions and Attachment: Seven Models for Clergy, Lay Ministers, and Mental Health Professionals

Spiritual Interventions and Attachment offers a variety of models of lay minister-driven spiritual interventions to which clergy from diverse religious backgrounds might consider referring their congregants. Each chapter reviews a specific model, providing a history, description, inclusion and exclusion criteria, training requirements, and a clinical illustration. The author also provides a critique of each model using attachment theory as the organizing framework.

All these models are designed to ease the overwhelming burden of clergy, who are unable to provide appropriately matched pastoral care to all their congregants who experience spiritual and emotional struggles. University course instructors, clergy, chaplains, pastoral counselors, lay ministers, and mental health professionals will benefit from this insightful book.

Geoff Goodman, PhD, ABPP, is professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the Emory University School of Medicine and associate professor of psychology and spiritual care in Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He holds board certifications in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis from the American Board of Professional Psychology.