Driven to Despair: Perfectionism and Ministry

Description

Driven To Despair considers the nature of perfectionism from Psychological and Theological viewpoints, examining functional and dysfunctional aspects of perfectionism, how they are shaped, and how they function in Christian ministry. These complementary viewpoints are used to provide an understanding of perfectionism and how to cope with unhealthy forms of perfectionism in lay and professional ministry. Additional strategies are explored for working with issues involving resistance and obstacles to change when coping strategies are difficult to implement. The book also describes how dysfunctional perfectionism can be sustained by unexpected ‘rewards’ and may be sometimes associated with bullying.This book has been written to help men and women working in all forms of Christian ministry and will also be of assistance to professionals working with clients who are struggling with unhelpful perfectionism in their ministry.

Author

Alan Craddock (PhD; MAPS) is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney, having retired in 2008 after 40 years full-time involvement in that School. His main research interest is close relationships and personality theory, and he taught mainly in the areas of Counselling Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology. Alan also taught Pastoral Psychology at Moore Theological College for over 30 years, as well as counselling many past and current students at the College during that time.