Margaret Ferris teaches basic counseling skills for caregivers who want to incorporate Christian norms and values into their ministry. In Compassioning, she offers a model that integrates basic Christian principles with tested psychological techniques. Chapter exercises instruct the reader in how to monitor and measure listening and responding skills. Compassioning can be used either as a text for training others or as a tool for personal growth in communication skills. Anyone called upon to do occasional pastoral counseling will appreciate this concise and reliable handbook. For those who anticipate a full-time ministry in pastoral counseling, Compassioning will provide an excellent foundation.