The Wounded Healer

The Wounded Healer is a hope-filled and profoundly simple book that speaks directly to men and women who want to be of service in their church or community but have found traditional ways threatening and ineffective. In this book, Henri Nouwen combines creative case studies of ministry with stories from diverse cultures and religious traditions to propose a new model for ministry. Weaving cultural analysis with psychological and religious insight, Nouwen presents a balanced and creative theology of service that begins with the realization of fundamental woundedness in human nature. Emphasizing what is common to both minister and believer, he argues that this woundedness can serve as a source of strength and healing when counseling others. Nouwen then develops his approach to ministry with an analysis of sufferings — a suffering world, a suffering generation, a suffering person, and a suffering minister. He contends that ministers are called to recognize the sufferings of their time in their own hearts and make that recognition the starting point of their service. Ministers must be willing to go beyond their professional role and leave themselves open as fellow human beings with the same wounds and suffering — in the image of Christ. In other words, we heal from our own wounds. Filled with examples from everyday experience, The Wounded Healer is a thoughtful and insightful guide welcomed by anyone engaged in the service of others.