The Christian handbook of Abuse, Addiction & Difficult Behaviour was published in late 2008. Most of us don't have the knowledge or skill to function with confidence across a broad range of issues, but we need to know where to go for help. Jargon slows me down. I'm dependent on people who can put complex things into simple language. Here is a book that does just that.
It introduces and takes us through a most admirable hand-holding tour of some of today's grisly pastoral problems. The contributors, who are mainly from the north-east, share with us the received wisdom on child sexual abuse, domestic abuse, the abuse of alcohol and other substances, gambling addiction and internet pornography, dealing with difficult people, adult bullying, and violence in the workplace.
On each topic we're treated to a Christian response, checklists of useful do's and don'ts and recommendations for further reading. With added chapters on Caring for Yourself, Practical Theology and Concluding Reflections, the authors have given us a practical, readable gem - a valuable companion. This is no a whistlestop tour but a skilful journey which helps us know the terrain and may whet the appetite for more.
I think it's a must for priests, teachers, those in pastoral work, youth work, education health and other caring professions and the interested reader. It's available from the publishers despite apparent poor availability from major internet book providers. (Posted on 04/04/2011)

Excerpt from full review...

There can be few things more confronting for teachers than to have to tell parents that their children have been abused – unless it is the news that their child is the perpetrator. There are many books available that are about dealing with problematic situations, but Brendan Geary and Jocelyn Bryan here take an explicitly Christian perspective on this particularly difficult issue.

The articles (from a variety of expert contributors) set out to provide sound, practical help for people who, without formal training in psychology or counselling, find that they must respond to issues that might be far outside their own personal experience… this is a really useful book for people such as teachers, community workers, chaplains and indeed even (or perhaps especially) parents.

Each chapter is a careful blend of practical advice combined with advice on how a Christian should respond.

It deals with safeguarding one’s own wellbeing when dealing with difficult people and situations and is excellent advice for all counsellors and teachers as they deal with students and their families each day. (Posted on 22/02/2011)

The Christian Handbook of Abuse, Addiction and Difficult Behavior edited by Brendan Geary and Jocelyn Bryan is brimming with extremely practical information. Written clearly and in a quite engaging manner, this handbook frames a discussion of quite difficult problems (i.e. abuse, self care, addiction, violence, adult bullying, and dealing with difficult people)in such a way, that understanding and taking immediate action becomes quite realistic. My hope is that it will have a wide readership among both persons in ministry and the general public. It is a pastoral gift to us all; to open it and absorb its cumulative wisdom is a joy as well as an exercise in wise self care. (Posted on 27/04/2010)