Pastoral counseling is unique, and John Patton, widely known practitioner and teacher, explains that uniqueness in the context of other forms of therapy available. He then determines what pastoral counseling is and how it is done. His theory focuses on the centrality of the pastoral relationship, reclaiming pastoral counseling as a legitimate ministry of the church. He shows that the pastoral relationship is common to both the generalist and the specialist in counseling and explains how his concept of ""relational humanness"" is the norm for Christian pastoral counseling. The accountability of the pastoral counselor in regard to the story of Jesus, in terms of his/her role and function as minister, and in relation to the community (the church which ordains and the peers in ministry) is discussed. How to structure a pastoral counseling interview, how to determine the unit of care, and how healing occurs in pastoral counseling are all important facets of this excellent book. Case studies, an index, and notes are included.