Christian Counseling That Really Works [Paperback]

Dan Montgomery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2010

Psychologist Dan Montgomery's Compass TherapyÆ includes 25 techniques that empower therapists, pastors, and counselees. Yale Divinity School's Rev. Gaylord Noyce calls the book "a breezy fast-reading manual that takes the mystery of the helping work of the action-oriented counselor." Dallas Theological Seminary's Dr. Linda Marten writes, "I appreciate Dr. Montgomery's many insights and focus on healing the whole person: body, mind, emotions, and spirit. This is what good Christian counseling looks like!" Acclaimed by professors at Princeton Seminary, Yale Divinity School, Fuller Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Denver Seminary, Regent College, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Self CompassÆ growth tool will enrich and empower every reader.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A breezy, fast-reading manual that takes the mystery out of the helping work of the action-oriented counselor." -- YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL
Rev. Gaylord Noyce, Emeritus Professor of Pastoral Theology

"A very important contribution to Christian counseling. The case studies are excellent." -- PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Rev. Abigail Evans, Ph.D., L.H.D., Professor of Practical Theology

"Compass Therapy is easy to learn and apply." -- GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Kenneth Swetland, D.Min, Campus Chaplain and Professor of Ministry

"Compass Therapy offers clinical and pastoral counselors a map, guide, and center for helping clients sort out life." -- FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
David Augsburger, Ph.D., Professor of Pastoral Counseling

"This is what good Christian counseling looks like!" -- DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Linda Marten, Ph.D., Department of Biblical Counseling

About the Author

Dan Montgomery, Ph.D., has held dual licensure as a Psychologist and Marriage & Family Therapist for over 25 years. A Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists, Dr. Dan has taught at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Psychology, United States International University, and the University of New Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Compass Works (September 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411687531
• ISBN-13: 978-1411687530
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #705,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Psychologist Dan Montgomery writes books that bring psychological depth to Christianity and inspire a faith-oriented life. He loves writing with his wife Kate, a former professor of Child & Family Development. Their Compass Series books are widely used in self help, pastoral and clinical counseling, and church ministries.

These books are praised by professors from Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Notre Dame, Loyola, Fuller Seminary, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Gordon Conwell Seminary, Andover Newton Theological School, Garrett Evangelical Seminary, Oral Roberts University, and Dallas Theological Seminary.

Reading a Montgomery book is like listening to Beethoven. Your imagination fires up, with mind and heart fully engaged. The Montgomery Self Compass shows you how to assess your personality and develop fulfilling relationships with God and people. Beyond this, you sense that Dan and Kate regard you as a companion, accompanying them on the interpersonal walk of life.

You are invited to visit Dr. Dan's educational website at www.CompassTherapy.com, and build a relationship with Dan and Kate through the pages of a Compass Series book!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For Anyone Involved in Counseling, August 5, 2006

By 

Ray (Santa Fe, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christian Counseling That Really Works (Paperback)

This is a masterpiece on psychotherapy in general, and Christian counseling in particular. The Self Compass growth tool and the LAWS of personality (Love and Assertion, Weakness and Strength) will immediately empower therapists, pastoral counselors, and chaplains. Lay persons who seek personality wholeness can apply these user-friendly concepts as well.

The Compass Model is diagnostic and therapeutic at the same time. As soon as you recognize how a person is stuck on one or more compass points, you encourage the person to take action steps into unused compass points, thereby making practical progress toward a balanced Self Compass. Montgomery explains and demonstrates 25 therapeutic techniques that stimulate personality healing and relational fulfillment. He also shows how to integrate a person's whole human nature in the counseling process: mind and heart, spirit and body. This promotes therapeutic transformation with lasting results.

I've read countless books in this field for over twenty years. Dr. Dan Montgomery's Compass Therapy stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Raymond D. Anderson, Ph.D., Th.D., LPCC

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you really want to change your behavior, this is the book for you, August 27, 2006

By 

Radactrice (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christian Counseling That Really Works (Paperback)

Self-help books fill the shelves but very few provide real, lasting help in making real, lasting changes. This book does. It doesn't matter if you read it as a counselor looking for new ideas to assist patients or as a person seeking to make life changes, this book "really works" as the title says. If you're looking for something that will actually make a difference in the way you cope with life situations, difficult people, personal challenges or emotionally stresses, pick this book up today.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent framework for effective therapy, February 3, 2007

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christian Counseling That Really Works (Paperback)

This book introduces the reader to the compass model and how to use it to zero in on exactly where a counselee is having problems. The compass theory is easy to understand and to apply in its basic form. Author Dr. Dan Montgomery has developed this technique and shares it with Christian Counselors as an effective counseling tool. Dr. Montgomery is well respected among his peers and has held a license as a Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist for over twenty-five years. He has taught at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Psychology, the United States International University, and the University of New Mexico. His work and techniques are praised by the likes of the Yale Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary.

In the book Dr. Montgomery covers the basics of the Compass system, the anatomy of a counseling session, dealing with the counselee's image of God, and using metaphors and symbolization in therapy. Appendix I provides basic commentary on twenty-five specific techniques that provide quality tools to aid the counselor. In the second appendix he even includes some short True/False self-assessment tests to help map out the counselee's position on the compass.

Written for the Christian Counselor these techniques and the compass model can be used not only by clinicians but also by pastors, chaplains, and others involved in this healing ministry. Christian Counseling that Really Works is highly recommended to everyone involved in counseling in any form.