incredible woman, The
Book Description
When women seek guidance from pastors and counselors, they frequently encounter a troubling pattern: their voices go unheard, their experiences are dismissed, and their struggles are misinterpreted. Too often, they find themselves labeled as unstable or abnormal, leading them to retreat into silence when they cannot bridge the gap between their reality and their counselor's understanding.
Riet Bons-Storm examines this profound disconnect within pastoral care, questioning how such misunderstanding can persist in a profession dedicated to compassionate listening. Through carefully analyzed case studies, she reveals that many pastors, particularly men, operate from unconscious biases embedded in traditional theological and psychological frameworks. These ingrained perspectives shape their assumptions about what constitutes "normal" female behavior and experience.
The author demonstrates how dominant religious and therapeutic discourses often fail to accommodate women's authentic voices and unique perspectives. She argues that these institutional blind spots prevent genuine communication and understanding between women seeking help and those meant to provide it.
Moving beyond critique, Bons-Storm offers practical pathways toward transformation. She shows how pastoral caregivers can develop more open, receptive approaches that honor women's distinct ways of expressing their spiritual and emotional needs. When this deeper understanding emerges, it creates opportunities for meaningful collaboration, addressing power imbalances and fostering conditions where all people can experience spiritual abundance and wholeness.
This work speaks to anyone interested in creating more inclusive, effective approaches to spiritual care and counseling.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 164 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Women
- ✓ Explore Pastoral Care
- ✓ Explore Counseling
- ✓ Explore Feministische Theologie
- ✓ Explore Pastoraat
- ✓ Explore Feminist theology
- ✓ Explore Sekseverschillen
- ✓ Explore Pastoral counseling of
