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Bringing Together Psychology and Theology: Reflections on Ministry to the Bereaved

A “clinical” approach to the understanding of persons and their experience is basic to effective pastoral work. A comprehensive “clinical” approach needs to include analysis of the interactions of persons with significant aspects of their environment. A comprehensive approach to the understanding of the experience of bereaved persons, for example, needs to include analysis of psychological, social, and cultural aspects of such experience. Then, theological reflection can be a way of “putting it all together” in the light of the goals and resources of ministry. Pastoral psychology is important but is only one discipline among others which can contribute to the understanding of the tasks of ministry.