Clare Blake and Chris Ledger
ISBN 9781853454363 (1853454362)
CWR, 2007
£7.50

Category: Church Leadership & Resources

This book is a practical and helpful guide to anxiety and as such, is a valuable resource for those suffering from it and also for those who are working to alleviate anxiety in others.

The issues covered include:

• Who is at risk
• How anxiety affects us
• How we can measure levels of anxiety
• Skills and strategies to overcome anxiety

I think the material in the book is covered very effectively using different methods of presentation. Diagrams add interest and make the information easily digestible. Case studies and Biblical examples add further interest and the addition of Activities, Reflection and Prayer at the end of each chapter enable the reader to put into practice some of the insights gained.

The language is clear and the book provides an excellent introduction to the subject of anxiety, with plenty of scope for further reading in the suggestions at the end of the book.

I particularly like the use of quotes from various authors at the beginning of each chapter. These are very poignant and add a richness to the text far beyond the boundary that their brevity would suggest.

The book has been written by Clare and is based on a "seminar given by Chris at Waverley Abbey House. Chris is an experienced counsellor, a Christian lay minister and a long-term carer for her daughter, Julia, who suffers from ME."

The purpose of the book is to help you put your roots deeper into the soil of God's love, thus becoming more dependent upon Him and to give you the skills to manage and control the distressing symptoms of anxiety — not only for yourself, but also as you try to understand and help others (p.12)

This quote gives an insight into the target readership, those suffering from anxiety and those seeking to help the aforementioned. In my opinion, the authors have successfully achieved their aim in writing the book and I would heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject.

As a recently retired Primary School teacher, who has just completed a first term studying Level 1 Counselling of a BA Theology and Counselling Degree at London School of Theology, I found this particular book extremely valuable as part of my course and as a resource to use with possible future clients.

Sheila Green, December 2007

Sheila Green is a recently retired Primary School teacher, currently studying Theology and Counselling at London School of Theology.

CWR

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