The Power of Listening Well
How Holy Curiosity Can Build Trust and Restore Relationships
In a world increasingly divided between rigid judgment and moral confusion, Dr. Greg Bottaro offers a revolutionary but deeply Catholic solution: listening with love.
When conversations about faith, morality, or identity turn tense - or when loved ones question Church teaching or drift away - how can we respond with both conviction and compassion?
Drawing on his experience as a Catholic psychologist and his years of formation as a Franciscan under Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Dr. Bottaro unveils a path modeled by Christ Himself, a way of accompanying others through curiosity, honesty, and hope, without ever compromising truth.
This is not about softening doctrine or sidestepping hard topics. It's about learning to see every person as God sees him or her - beloved, wounded, and worth listening to.
With warmth, candor, and practical skill, Dr. Bottaro provides a framework for transforming strained relationships and reclaiming conversations that have gone silent or sour. Each chapter weaves together Scripture, Church teaching, and real-life stories to reveal how holy listening can lead to deep healing and renewed trust. Inside you'll find:
- Seven principles for cultivating holy listening that transform even the most difficult conversations
- Six ways to acknowledge pain and turn despair into healing
- Five practical strategies for parents navigating difficult questions with children
- Steps for moving from crisis management to growth and reconciliation
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How Our Lady and St. Monica teach us to hold on to hope when hearts seem lost
From discussions on sexuality and mental health to doubt, grief, and disconnection, Bottaro applies his groundbreaking CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism (CPMAP) to show how faith and psychology together can heal families and renew faith.
More than a book on communication, The Power of Listening Well is a road map for living love in truth. It will teach you how to move from reactive judgment to responsive charity, build authentic connection without fear of compromise, and practice accompaniment that evangelizes hearts, one honest, grace-filled conversation at a time.
Discover how listening like Christ can transform not just your relationships - but your entire way of seeing others and living the Gospel.
Endorsements
“This is a calm, thoughtful book for anxious times. Dr. Greg Bottaro shows how listening with curiosity and presence can rebuild trust, deepen relationships, and create space for truth to be heard again—especially when conversations feel fragile or fraught. For parents, pastors, and anyone navigating strained relationships, this book offers tremendous help and consolation.”
Brandon Vogt Author, Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church
“What if the most powerful way to love someone well is simply to listen, really listen? Drawing on Catholic wisdom, sound psychology, and moving real-life stories, The Power of Listening Well shows how listening like Jesus transforms even the most difficult conversations. Clear, compassionate, and grounded in truth, this book offers a hopeful way forward for parents, spouses, pastors, and anyone longing to love others with both conviction and mercy.”
Danielle Bean Catholic author and speaker
“Every seminarian, priest, and bishop should read this book. We get swamped with messaging about the need to listen. But what does that mean? How can we do it well? How do we do it when faced with challenging pastoral situations? Dr. Greg Bottaro does a masterful job of unpacking and answering those questions. He gives concrete, Christ-centered examples for some of the most pressing and common pastoral questions regarding sexuality, identity, and religious practice. This book will help priests, parents, and families improve their ability to connect with, understand, and love those entrusted to them in an evangelical way.”
Fr. Charles Sikorsky President, Divine Mercy University
“Once again Dr. Gregory Bottaro has something important and useful to say. I strongly recommend that all those in the helping professions read this book and reflect on it.”
Paul C. Vitz, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Emeritus, New York University and Divine Mercy University
Details
| Dimensions | N/A |
|---|---|
| Weight | N/A |
| SKU | 6240 |
| SKU | d16257 |
