Full Description
Here is a excellent addition to the recent library of psychoanalytical approaches to Spirituality.'
- American Journal of Pastoral Counseling
'I enjoyed this book immensely. Far from being simply another spiritual "feel good" book, it contains an impressive amount of intellectual material. At the same time, the author's self is visable enough such that reading the book felt like attending a seminar with him. I highly recommend this thoughtful book to anyone interested in integrating spirituality into psychotherapy'.
- International Journal of Group Psychotherapy
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in linking depth psychology and psychotherapy with spirituality. This book explores the expanding literature on spirituality as an important dimension of psychology, and explains the relationship between psychological treatment and spiritual healing. The author examines ideas from religious traditions including Judeo-Christian, Hindu and Buddhist, and considers their implications for psychotherapy and personal growth. He discusses Jungian psychology, the later work of the psychoanalyst Bion - and how object relations theory connects with the theory of spirituality. He discusses his theoretical considerations in particular practice contexts including working with people who have compulsive disorders, are experiencing addiction, and patients in palliative care.
Contents
Foreword, Kenneth Porter. Preface and Acknowledgements. Part I: Psychospirituality. 1. A Paradigm Shift. 2. Newer Perspectives in Science, Psychology and Medicine. 3. The Impact of Eastern Thought. 4. Building Bridges between Spirituality and Psychology through Object Relations Theory and Self Psychology. 5. Insights from Kleinian Object Relations Theory. 6. The Relational Matrix of Infancy and its Impact upon Spiritual Development. 7. The Self in Relation: Vulnerability and Mutuality as Gateways to Healing. 8. The Pyschospiritual Self. 9. Spiritual Development throughout the Life Cycle. 10. The Circles of Being: Towards a `Pyschospiritual Map'. Part II: Spirituality and Psychological Healing. 11. Spirituality in Psychotherapy. 12 The Spiritual Journey: Story, Rite and Ritual as Metaphors for Psychotherapy and Healing. 13. The Therapist as Mystic: The Listening Process. 14. Conclusions: Optimistic and Cautionary. Addendum and Exemplification. Spirituality, the Twelve Step Model and Psychotherapy. References. Index.
