Giving Good Sermons in Therapy

SUMMARY

Social workers and other therapists often deliver “sermons” which are not heard by their clients. Like some preachers who lose their congregations with dull monologues, therapists can lose their audiences through ineffective preparation or poor delivery. The effective preparation and delivery of messages are addressed in the body of literature known as homiletics. This article begins a conversation between practitioners of homiletics and of family therapy. A discussion of the vital elements of an effective sermon as well as its preparation and delivery that makes sense to clients is offered. Vignettes to illustrate various uses of sermons in therapy are included.