Being a Crisis Chaplain delivers the essential elements of crisis chaplaincy, outlining the process of responding to crises with clarity and compassion. Drawing from real‑world experiences and research, this is a concise but comprehensive toolkit for navigating the delicate aftermath of crises.

Chapters explore ways to triage emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs, from the raw shock and grief to complex feelings of guilt and helplessness. With practical guidance for recognizing and mitigating long‑term mental health issues such as post‑traumatic stress disorder, this book also emphasizes the importance of self‑care for chaplains, ensuring they can sustain their vital work without succumbing to secondary trauma. The reader will develop an understanding of what a crisis chaplain does and how to act in a safe, compassionate, and humane manner in any type of crisis or disaster.

This book is for professionals on the front line of natural and human disasters and crises, including emergency responders, safety practitioners, chaplains, pastoral carers, religious leaders, and counsellors.

Sidney Dekker, MA, MSc, PhD, is a professor and the director of the Safety Science Innovation Lab at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.

Lance Mergard, OAM, is the founder and chief chaplain of ChaplainWatch in Brisbane, Australia.