![]() ![]() To elucidate the underlying epistemology of Nouwen’s model and to understand his critical stance with regard to psychology, the article follows the pattern of the focal points “healing”, “sustaining” and “guiding”. To explain and enhance spirituality, Nouwen proposes a theory for pastoral care which aims at healing, sustaining and guiding the suffering person. Spirituality is about the way in which someone experiences God’s presence. Therefore he finds it imperative to move beyond psychology. ![]() He sees the suffering person as a spiritual being, someone who lives in the presence of God. In the discussion his knowledge and use of psychological perspectives become apparent. In this context he discusses aspects such as pain, anger, greed, grief and solitude. It demonstrates Nouwen's understanding of pastoral care, what the underlying epistemology is and how spirituality is the focal point of his model. This article aims to explain Henri Nouwen’s reflection on the relation-ship between psychology and practical theology and especially on the commensurability/incommensurability of psychological techniques and spirituality, both of which are relevant to pastoral care. The article concludes with an exposition of Nouwens's use of the metaphor in his book, The wounded healer: Ministry in contemporary society. The discussion takes on the form of certain relevant biographical side notes on Nouwen's contribution to pastoral theology. This insight leads to a discussion of how Henri Nouwen applied the significance of the metaphor to pastoral ministry. It also shows that, in its utilisation by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, the concept became a metaphor. This reflection explores the ancient Greek mythological origins of the concept 'wounded healer'. This article investigates how pastors can act congruently and with integrity in a world that has been profoundly changed by a shift from a modern to a postmodern paradigm. While pastors view their involvement with people in the social and faith communities in which they live and work as guiding people towards a life of wholeness and integrity, they themselves, because of their own inner woundedness, struggle to live a life of wholeness. The point of departure is that during the past two decades, pastors have been subjected to profound changes. The present article focuses on the impact of cognitive dissonance and the role it plays in pastors becoming constrained in their ministry. This article is the first in a series of two dealing with Henri Nouwen's contribution to pastoral care. ![]()
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