Margaret Ferris teaches basic counseling skills for caregivers who want to incorporate Christian norms and values into their ministry. In Compassioning, she offers a model that integrates basic Christian principles with tested psychological techniques. Chapter exercises instruct the reader in how to monitor and measure listening and responding skills.Compassioning can be used either as a text for training others or as a tool for personal growth in communication skills. Anyone called upon to do occasional pastoral counseling will appreciate this concise and reliable handbook. For those who anticipate a full-time ministry in pastoral counseling, Compassioning will provide an excellent foundation.