Faith in the Trenches: Issues and Interventions in Catholic Counseling

Packed with practical information, this program will enrich the listener’s entire understanding of Catholic pastoral Counseling. Dr. Popcak shows how Catholic Pastoral counseling is related to but distinct from Spiritual Direction and crisis intervention. He shows this approach differs from Psychological counseling in that the underlying assumptions reflect the faith filled anthropology of the Church. This approach not only differs from the various forms of secular counseling, but is also distinct from Protestant Pastoral counseling that is under girded with an entirely different theology. He explains how important it is to lay out tangible concrete goals that will help an individual know when he or she has “gotten better.” He stresses the need to define terms as quickly as possible by asking the person not only what the problem is that he or she is facing but what exactly does it mean. He equips the listener to spot smoke screens and evasions in order to understand what the true specific needs of the person asking for help are. The entire approach is based on Catholic doctrine and the theology of the body. But he makes this approach concrete and utilizes many ways to assist individuals and families including telephone counseling. In regards to marital counseling he develops the notion of “holy sex” and how the intimacy between man and wife is all-inclusive and sacramental. In a culture that caters to fulfilling adult desires, he urges people to meet the needs of children in order to build up not only human society but also the kingdom of God.