The Good Listener

by James E. Sullivan

During twenty-six years as director and full-time counselor at the Religious Consultation Center for the diocese of Brooklyn, I was privileged to work with hundreds and hundreds of clients: priests, religious sisters and brothers, and lay persons. They were sincere, caring people, but they were hurting-many of them hurting terribly. They were anxious, depressed, emotionally confused, and many felt trapped and helpless.

Their pain touched my very deeply. Hence, the purpose of this book. For us to appreciate the healing power of listening and to rid ourselves of the unfair guilt that haunts us, we have to bring these feelings into conscious awareness. Only then can we fight the effects that the poor listening of others had had on us. Only then can we appreciate how very vital it is that we ourselves become good listeners.