Pastoral Counseling

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Pastoral Counseling

• Chapter 8
• Prudence Virtue

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Pastoral Counselor

• Understanding and prudent counsel based upon the
  premises of faith combined with trust in divine
  providence and prayer to discern the will of God.

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Prudence

• The Charioteer of the Virtues

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The charioteer of the virtues

• Right reason in action,"
• St. Thomas Aquinas.
• It guides the other virtues by setting rule and
  measure.
• It is prudence that immediately guides the
  judgment of conscience

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Define Prudence

• The prudent person gathers information and
  assesses that information in light of right
  standards. He weighs the consequences, "pro" and
  "con," for himself and others. He decides what
  is best and acts consistently.

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Prudent person

• Gathers information
• Assesses that information
• in light of right standards.
• He weighs the consequences
• "pro" and "con," for himself and others.
• He decides what is best
• Acts consistently

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Identify aspects of Prudence

• Gathering information
• Seeking counsel
• Weigh pros cons
• Assess in light of right standards
• Consider the measure and excess
• Judgment
• Decision

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Objectives in Prudence

• Gather information
• Getting good counsel
• Seek authority
• Doing research
• Consider Churchs position

• Critical thinking
• Docility
• Reflection
• Looking back
• Looking ahead
• Decisiveness
• Caution

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Reflection

• Looking back
• Is there something I need to do?
• What would I change?

• Look ahead
• What would I do in the future?
• What can I expect?
• How can I respond?
• How can I make it better?

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3 Steps to Prudence
3. Decision
2. Judgment
1. Deliberation
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Deliberation

• Gathering information
• Seek counsel authority

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Judgment

• Weighs pros cons
• Consequences for self others

• Ignatian Method
• Gifts Talents
• Desires
• Opportunities
• Decision making process

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Decision

• Acts consistently with what prudence demands

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Heading it off before the pass
The coward bails out
The brave man goes on
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With a little help from my friends
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Anger Management Walk
Walk Away
Act while reason controls
Spouse follows or accuses escape
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Act While Reason Controls
REASON
Passion
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Gathering information

• Personal status
• Family background

• General disposition of relationships
• Location
• Number

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What is the issue?

• Who is involved?
• Relative history
• Factors
• Actions behaviors
• Dispositions
• Virtues/vices
• Principles

• Standards
• Desires
• Commitment to change
• Decisions
• Options

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Marital decision making

• Personal decision
• no need to communicate
• good to communicate
• must communicate
• autonomy

• Consensus

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Problems

• What kind of decision is this?
• Does this decision need to be a shared one?
• Does it belong to personal autonomy?

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General agreement

• Important influence on life style of other
• Can change life style of family
• Outcome which is difficult to rectify

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General agreement

• Budget
• Leisure time
• Religion
• Ways to show love
• Friends
• Intimate relationships
• Norms of social behavior

• Philosophy of life
• How to treat parents
• Important objectives
• Time together
• Housework
• Hobbies
• Professional work
• System for decisions

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Problems

• Undue competition for limited resources
• time, money, space
• Desire to control autonomous activities
• Disagreement about goals or manner of achievement

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Decision making process

• Step 1 What is the question?
• Step 2 What are the options?
• Step 3 What are the pros cons?
• Step 4 Qualify each pro con
• Step 5 What are the priorities?
• Step 6 How do I rate each option?
• Step 7 Where are we the closest?

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Ignatian Method
Gifts Talents
Desires
Opportunities