By Teo Van Der Weele
Monarch Publications
309 pages £8.99
ISBN 1 85424 261 X
This book offers an alternative to traditional secular forms of counselling, such as psychotherapy, by taking as its subject matter the pastoral counselling and care of the sexually abused. The author draws upon his vast experience as a missionary counsellor in Asia and Europe, and throughout the book combines clinical and Biblical insights to provide a detailed and practical guide to survivors, helpers and the Church, on how to deal with sexual abuse.
A wide variety of issues are covered within this book, including concepts of and definitions of child sexual abuse, dealing with painful memories, 'Where is God in all the suffering?', and crossing 'cultural barriers' (the 'culture of the sexually abused') to understand and counsel abuse survivors. It also deals with various practical issues such as the self image of survivors ('victim' or 'survivor'), and the rights and duties of believers with regards to abuse survivors (pastoral counsellors as a bridge to professional secular helpers).
