Counselors are meant to be objective and empathetic accompaniers and advocates for their clients.  At the same time, counselors recognize their own unique experiences, questions, limitations, and insecurities that affect thoughts, feelings, beliefs, practices, and interactions with others.  Dr. Robert J. Wicks normalizes and addresses these realities in his book Night Call: Embracing Compassion and Hope in a Troubled World. Counselors are meant to be objective and empathetic accompaniers and advocates for their clients.  At the same time, counselors recognize their own unique experiences, questions, limitations, and insecurities that affect thoughts, feelings, beliefs, practices, and interactions with others.  Dr. Robert J. Wicks normalizes and addresses these realities in his book Night Call: Embracing Compassion and Hope in a Troubled World.

This book is helpful for both novice and seasoned practitioners since Wicks presents practical suggestions for being authentic and resilient when our human weaknesses lead us to question our effectiveness mindfully and humbly.  For instance, Wicks talks about the importance of “leaning back” psychologically to examine the “whys” behind our expectations and the things we said and did to try to meet those expectations.  Wicks asserts that such reflections yield wisdom and greater compassion for ourselves, our clients, and our colleagues moment by moment.  Even though some of our own, and our clients’, experiences can be uncomfortable and bring about transference and/or countertransference, Dr. Wicks helps readers learn resilience when these situations arise.  Wicks breaks down the parts of resiliency such as aloneness, replenishing, debriefing, practicing mindfulness, and letting go.  He does this through lenses of faith and evidence-based clinical practices. 

People need compassion to touch their lives, especially in a chaotic world.  Through practical wisdom and personal experiences of recognizing and meeting his need for compassion, this book is both encouraging and insightful for personal and professional growth that promotes compassionate care for self and others.  Dr. Wicks reminds counselors how they are humans who are not immune to intense emotions and experiences.  Instead of fearing or suppressing these emotions and experiences, Dr. Wicks encourages counselors to channel them as beneficial teachable moments.