Synopses & Reviews
In A Spiritual Strategy for Counseling and Psychotherapy, authors P. Scott Richards and Allen E. Bergin note that spiritual perspectives have long been excluded from psychological theory and the practice of psychotherapy. They propose that the time is ripe for the inclusion of a spiritual strategy in examining and assessing personality and in providing psychotherapeutic counseling.
This book is the first to provide a solid rationale and framework for integrating a theistic spiritual strategy into mainstream approaches to psychology and psychotherapy that, the authors hope, will reach a large, underserved population of religious clients. Richards and Bergin demonstrate a profound respect for the validity and the achievements of the scientific method, and argue that the spiritual domain, while clearly separate, is also susceptible to scientific investigation. They take great pains to place their proposed theistic strategy on a parallel path with the more traditional forms of psychotherapy that have evolved in the past 100 years.
This book is clearly oriented to practitioners, and the authors vividly demonstrate for therapists how to implement spiritual perspectives and interventions into their professional work. A broad-ranging text, A Spiritual Strategy for Counseling and Psychotherapy begins with a review of the history and philosophy of science and psychology, of the central beliefs of the major world religions (Western and Eastern), of the process of research and scientific discovery, and of the evolution of the practice of psychotherapy. Richards and Bergin then look at the nature of the traditional antagonisms between the spiritual and scientific domains, and they offer aclearly developed discussion of psychotherapy processes and methods, theoretical issues and guidelines, and a series of case studies that bring their theses and research to life.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 343-370) and indexes.
Table of Contents
The need for a spiritual strategy -- The alienation between religion and psychology -- The new zeitgeist -- Western and Eastern spiritual worldviews -- A theistic, spiritual view of personality and mental health -- A theistic, spiritual view of psychotherapy -- Ethical issues and guidelines -- Religious and spiritual assessment -- Religious and spiritual practices as therapeutic interventions -- Spiritual interventions used by contemporary psychotherapists -- Case reports of spiritual issues and interventions in psychotherapy -- A theistic, spiritual view of science and research methods -- Directions for the future.