By accepting the inevitability of death--our own, or that of a loved one or patient--we take control of however many days or years remain, and we become empowered to fill this time with dignity and love.

Melancholy is rightly taken to be a central topic of concern in early modern culture, and it continues to generate scholarly interest among historians of medicine, literature, psychiatry and religion. This book considerably furthers our understanding of the issue by examining the extensive discussions of melancholy in seventeenth- and eighteenth- century religious and moral philosophical publications, many of which have received only scant attention from modern scholars. Arguing that melancholy was considered by many to be as much a 'disease of the soul' as a condition originating in bodily disorder, Dr. Schmidt reveals how insights and techniques developed in the context of ancient philosophical and early Christian discussions of the good of the soul were applied by a variety of early modern authorities to the treatment of melancholy. The book also explores ways in which various diagnostic and therapeutic languages shaped the experience and expression of melancholy and situates the melancholic experience in a series of broader discourses, including the language of religious despair dominating English Calvinism, the late Renaissance concern with the government of the passions, and eighteenth-century debates surrounding politeness and material consumption. In addition, it explores how the shifting languages of early modern melancholy altered and enabled certain perceptions of gender. As a study in intellectual history, Melancholy and the Care of the Soul offers new insights into a wide variety of early modern texts, including literary representations and medical works, and critically engages with a broad range of current scholarship in addressing some of the central interpretive issues in the history of early modern medicine, psychiatry, religion and culture.

Drawing on a lifetime of pastoral experience, The Care of Souls is a beautifully written treasury of proven wisdom which pastors will find themselves turning to again and again. Harold Senkbeil helps remind pastors of the essential calling of the ministry: preaching and living out the Word of God while orienting others in the same direction. And he offers practical and fruitful adviceâ€"born out of his five decades as a pastorâ€"that will benefit both new pastors and those with years in the pulpit. In a time when many churches have lost sight of the real purpose of the church, The Care of Souls invites a new generation of pastors to form the godly habits and practical wisdom needed to minister to the hearts and souls of those committed to their care.

A Soul's Guide to Abundance, Health and Happiness is easy to read and hard to put down. It is the first book to explain the spiritual, mental, emotional, energetic and physical awareness necessary to create a life of superb health, complete happiness and endless abundance. Forty chapters with study guides, motivational prayers, poetry, true life anecdotes and channeled information take readers on a fascinating journey of self exploration, diagnosis, healing and training. Topics include finding your true self, spiritual contracts, cell memory, meditation, channeling, positive thoughts, intent, affirmations, dreams, living in the moment, loving self and others, forgiveness, gratitude, working with energy, chakras, meridians, how to give a healing, using crystals, essential oils, herbs, flower essences, the acid/alkaline diet, exercise, cell memory, and past lives. Abundance, health and happiness is a reality for all people, not a stroke of luck for just a few. It is our God-given right and you deserve it!

What did pain and illness mean to early Christians? And how did their approaches to health care compare to those of the ancient Greco-Roman world? In this wide-ranging interdisciplinary study, Helen Rhee examines how early Christians viewed illness, pain, and health care and how their perspective was influenced both by Judeo-Christian tradition and by the milieu of the larger ancient world. Throughout her analysis, Rhee places the history of medicine, Greco-Roman literature, and ancient philosophy in constructive dialogue with early Christian literature to elucidate early Christians’ understanding, appropriation, and reformulation of Roman and Byzantine conceptions of health and wholeness from the second through the sixth centuries CE. Utilizing the contemporary field of medical anthropology, Rhee engages illness, pain, and health care as sociocultural matters. Through this and other methodologies, she explores the theological meanings attributed to illness and pain; the religious status of those suffering from these and other afflictions; and the methods, systems, and rituals that Christian individuals, churches, and monasteries devised to care for those who suffered. Rhee’s findings ultimately provide an illuminating glimpse into how Christians began forming a distinct identity—both as part of and apart from their Greco-Roman world.

Catholic health care is about ethics but also "ethos" – not only what we shouldn't do but a vision for what we should do with love. The issues it faces don't just concern academic bioethicists – they concern every faithful Catholic doctor, nurse, practitioner, and even patient. Modern medical practitioners on the ground, day-in, day-out, wrestling with medical moral matters, witnessing what is happening in American medicine today, while also striving to witness to their Catholic faith in living out their medical vocation – these are the primary authors of this unique book, and these are the readers it hopes to serve. Catholic Witness in Health Care integrates the theoretical presentation of Catholic medical ethics with real life practice. It begins with fundamental elements of Catholic care, touching upon Scripture, moral philosophy, theology, Christian anthropology, and pastoral care. The second part features Catholic clinicians illuminating authentic Catholic medical care in their various medical disciplines: gynecology and reproductive medicine, fertility, pediatrics, geriatrics, critical care, surgery, rehabilitation, psychology, and pharmacy. Part three offers unique perspectives concerning medical education, research, and practice, with an eye toward creating a cultural shift to an authentically Catholic medical ethos. Readers of this book will learn essential elements upon which the ethics of Catholic medical practice is founded and gain insights into practicing medicine and caring for others in an authentically Catholic way.

This extraordinary compendium of religious traditions is invaluable to all healthcare providers. The user-friendly resource contains specific and detailed information on faith traditions vital for providing optimal spiritual care in a clinical setting. A series of inspirational introductory chapters promote the importance of spiritual well-being as

Volume III of Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older Adults addresses the role of religion in health decision-making in America. This book, co-authored by both religious leaders and health care professionals, focuses on how clinicians caring for older adults can develop an understanding of different religious groups in order to effectively care for their patients.

Build a broad fundamental knowledge of Canadian mental health concepts and disorders! Morrison-Valfre's Foundations of Mental Health Care in Canada uses an easy-to-read, multidisciplinary approach to describe current therapeutic interventions and treatments for mental health conditions. Ideal for nurses and other caregivers, this guide provides concise coverage of skills and principles, therapeutic skills, mental health problems throughout the lifecycle, and common psychological and psychosocial conditions. Included are topics such as new research, the latest mental health legislation, and new psychotropic drugs. Adapted for a Canadian audience by Boris Bard, Eric MacMullin, and Jacqueline Williamson, this resource enables you to provide effective therapy to clients with a wide range of maladaptive behaviours. - Coverage of psychotropic medications emphasizes the latest in safe pharmaceutical treatment in mental health care. - Coverage of internet usage features emerging mental health issues surrounding use of the internet, highlighting related addictions and violence. - Updated DSM-5 diagnoses include the latest information on new mental health diagnoses recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. - Sample client care plans show how members of the health care team work collaboratively to meet client needs. - Case studies use realistic client situations to strengthen critical thinking and ensure that students consider psychosocial aspects of therapeutic care. - Critical Thinking boxes include practice scenarios with client issues as well as questions that stimulate more careful analysis. - Cultural Consideration boxes highlight cultural issues and address the varied mental health needs of culturally diverse clients. - Medication Alert boxes identify the risks and possible adverse reactions of psychotherapeutic medications. - Chapter objectives focus on the most important concepts. - Key terms include phonetic pronunciations and text page references, and are listed in a comprehensive glossary, making it easier for students to understand and use mental health terminology. - NEW! Comprehensive coverage includes Canadian statistics, research, references and resources, guidelines, assessment and screening tools, therapies, drugs, terminology, and more. - NEW! Canadian cultural considerations are included when content relates to race/ethnicity, Indigenous people, and the LGBTQ2 community. - NEW! Coverage of trending topics includes medical assistance in dying (MAID), the opioid crisis, legalization of cannabis (Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act), vaping, harm reduction, violence against women, and more. - NEW! Balanced coverage of mental health care addresses a variety of workplace settings. - NEW! Critical Thinking Questions are included at the end of each chapter, allowing students to apply concepts to practice.

What are the roles, functions, and identities of pastoral counselors today? What paradigms shape their understanding of the needs of others? How can pastoral counselors serve the needs of diverse individuals in both religious and secular environments? This foundational text reflects the continued and unfolding work of pastoral counseling in both clinical and traditional ministry settings. It addresses key issues in the history, current practices, and future directions of pastoral counseling and its place among allied helping professions. Written to incorporate current changes in the roles of pastoral counselors and models of training beyond the traditional seminary, the book builds on themes of pastoral counseling as a distinct way of being in the world, understanding client concerns and experiences, and intervening to promote the health and growth of clients. The text provides a foundational overview of the roles and functions of the modern pastoral counselor. It discusses spiritual perspectives on the issues that bring individuals to seek counseling and integrates them with the perspectives of allied mental health professions. The tools and methods pastoral counselors can employ for spiritual assessment are presented, and the book describes common spiritual and theological themes—both implicit and explicit—that arise in pastoral counseling. Included are chapters examining Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Native American, and Buddhist approaches to counseling as well as counseling individuals with diverse sexual identities. The book reflects the increasing need for pastoral counselors to serve effectively in a multicultural society, including service to individuals who are not affiliated with a specific religious denomination. The book also considers the emerging realities of distance counseling and integrated health care systems as current issues in the field. KEY FEATURES: Presents a contemporary approach to how pastoral counselors function as mental health professionals and spiritual leaders Serves as a state-of-the-art foundational text for pastoral counseling education Describes assessments and interventions that are shared with allied mental health professionals and those that are unique to pastoral counseling Provides an ecumenical and interfaith approach for a multicultural society, including individuals with diverse sexual identities Addresses counseling with individuals who do not affiliate with a specific faith tradition Includes Instructor's Guide and online Student Resources to enhance teaching and learning