Product Description
In Existential Humanistic Therapy, Kirk J. Schneider and Orah T. Krug discuss the history, theory, and practice of this distinctly American expression of existential therapy. Existential humanistic therapy welds the European existential philosophical heritage of self-inquiry, struggle, and responsibility with the American tradition of spontaneity, optimism, and practicality. Contrary to its common reputation as a purely intellectual form of therapy, this approach emphasizes not only the concepts of freedom and responsibility, but experiential reflection, in which clients experience their problems in session through a process of checking in with their affective and bodily sensations. The goal of this therapy is to help clients free themselves from self-imposed limitations and come to a deeper understanding of their authentic life goals, versus those imposed by others or by a rigid sense of self. This approach, which is becoming increasingly integrative, is applicable in a wide array of settings and diagnostic populations and, because of its emphasis on key contextual factors, is increasingly influential on the therapeutic profession as a whole. In this book, Dr. Schneider and Dr. Krug present and explore this approach, its theory, history, the therapy process, primary change mechanisms, empirical basis, and future developments. This essential primer to existential humanistic therapy, amply illustrated with case examples, is perfect for graduate students studying theories of therapy and counseling as well as for seasoned practitioners interested in understanding this approach. ... Read more

Product Description

Inspired by James F. T. Bugental’s classic, Challenges of Humanistic Psychology (1967), The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology represents the latest scholarship in the resurgent field of humanistic psychology and psychotherapy.Set against trends toward psychological standardization and medicalization, the handbook provides a rich tapestry of reflection by the leading person-centered scholars of our time.Their range in topics is far-reaching—from the historical, theoretical, and methodological, to the spiritual, psychotherapeutic, and multicultural.Psychology is poised for a renaissance, and this handbook will play a critical role in that transformation.As increasing numbers of students and professionals rebel against mechanizing trends, they are looking for the fuller, deeper, and more personal psychological orientation that this handbook promotes. 

Customer Reviews (1)

MUST HAVE
For anyone who is interested in postmodern, humanistic, qualitative psychology-- THIS is the book.It is on my desk at all times for a daily reference! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun Book if Read Uncritically
I've had this small book for quite some time and it has always been fun to re-read. The book was published by State University Press in N.Y. as part of the SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology. We learn more about the author from a blurb on the SUNY Press website: "Mike Sayama graduated from Yale University summa cum laude and received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. He has been training in Zen and the martial arts for more than ten years under Tanouye Tenshin Roshi. Currently, he is a member of the board of directors and the educational staff of the Institute for Zen Studies in Hawaii."
OK, fair enough. We might need such a smart and well-educated guide, for the subject of transpersonal psychology in general seems to be dangerous territory for exploration...I mean, science has a hard enough time with *personal* psychology, much less transpersonal... and this book bravely tries to navigate through the minefields without blowing everybody up (sorry for the metaphor, I just made that up). We need to applaud a willingness to take on this adventure with the remarkable confidence Mr. Sayama shows in the book. However, I agree with reviewer "Crazy Fox" here that the book is very disjointed and the Zen anecdotes can't be taken seriously as historical facts. With that in mind, let's take a look:

The first part of the book gives selective excerpts of sayings attributed to famous figures, such as Shakyamuni Buddha, Bodhidharma, Hui-Neng, Lin Chi, Hakuin, etc., jumping to modern-day figures associated with the Chozen-ji school located in Oahu, Hawaii (i.e., Sogen Omori and Tanouye Tenshin). Evidently, the intent by the author is to show some kind of "lineage" from the founder of Buddhism straight through to the current-day Tenryu-ji line of Rinzai Zen. There is no need to wade into issues of the historical accuracy of such a "direct lineage", the creation of Zen (Chan) "lineages" in olden times in China is a product of vast retro revisioning and image-making, as modern scholars have often pointed out.

And not just the creation of Chan lineages...in fact, the entire history of Buddhism is full of image-building on famous figures. Take, for instance, the old tale of Shakyamuni ("Sage of the Shakyas"...) sitting under the Bodhi tree and becoming enlightened when he saw the Morning Star. Supposedly he proclaimed something to the effect of, "How wonderful! How wonderful! All mountains, rivers, and the great earth possess the identical wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata". Now this is a charming story, dutifully repeated countless times in Zen sermons, but it has zero historical value. Putting words into the mouths of old venerable figures is, frankly, a common habit of later Chinese writers, so much so that much in Chinese history can be relegated to "wild history".
Another example of Shakyamuni's re-imaging is the old traditional view that the Avatamsaka Sutra supposedly describes his initial enlightenment experience. One can easily find this assumed- without any critical comment- throughout the vast Buddhist devotional literature. This can hardly be true, however, since the concepts reflect a more historically mature period of Mahayana development. So we see here how Buddhist history is very much a myth-making process.

And the stories of famous Zen figures that author Sayama gives are typical Zen anecdotes that are charming to read, but shouldn't necessarily be taken as verbatim words out of the mouths of these old Chan legendary figures. As modern scholarship shows, the famous "recorded sayings" genre is more a product of the later Song Period than actual more-or-less verbatim recollections of the T'ang Period. But verbatim is probably how Sayama wants you to take them...anecdotes were selected from each figure in the "lineage", all presumably chirping, in unison, the same theme of the "seamless", non-dual nature of reality. In essence, hence, this is a book located within the purely devotional, popular side of Buddhist lore.

In this context, then, let us look at the main title of the book: "Samadhi". This old Indian term is re-visioned by Sayama, who interprets it thus (again from a summary on the SUNY Press blurb): "The key to self-development, says Mike Sayama, is the experience of Samadhi, a state of relaxed concentration in which the individual neither freezes out of fear nor clings due to desire. Simply stated, samadhi is the free flow of vital energy within the body and between the body and the universe".

We'll forgive Sayama for sounding just a little new-agey here, as similar terminology is often spouted by new-agers seeking "mind/body unity" and so on...but Chozen-ji students in Hawaii presumably really do seek the aim of realizing a unity of body and mind through various practices, such as traditional Rinzai zazen and various "Ways", such as kyudo (ritualized Japanese archery), aikido, calligraphy, taijiquan, body-work, etc.. Also heavily emphasized, from descriptions, is the traditional Japanese culture of "kiai" (...think cultivation of physical/spiritual "energy" in a broad sense).

The book goes on to present seemingly similar lessons from transpersonal psychology, which might be a stretch of the imagination, maybe of Sayama's imagination. The author talks about some of the rather startling techniques of famous psychiatrist Milton Erickson, for instance, but it is not clear how Erickson's techniques relate directly to the theme Sayama is trying to develop, which is the non-dual nature of reality (as presumably seen through Zen eyes)...last time I checked, Erickson had no Zen training and really comes from a totally different environment. Truth is, when one really starts asking why Sayama links together these seemingly disparate philosophies as good examples of his own, one is at a loss to see the connections. The only similarity I could see between Erickson and, say, some of the old Chan masters is perhaps they were "unorthodox". Milton had "unorthodox" techniques; Lin Chi's behavior was perhaps "unorthodox" with his shouts and slapping. I'm not too sure, however, how appropriate somebody's "unorthodox" behavior is for an illustration of the "non-dual nature of Reality", it could be they were just eccentric. But that's the beauty of transpersonal psychology- one is evidently free to throw in whatever one is interested in, all into one big smorgasbord of mish-mash. It's like eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet, just go down the line and pick out whatever you like and hey, it all eventually goes down into the same stomach...

Sayama also includes descriptions of body-work techniques, such as Rolfing, Feldenkrais, etc., and indeed body-work techniques (such as trigger-point therapy) seem to be part of the curriculum at the Chozen-ji school in Hawaii. Well and good, but it is not readily apparent how various techniques of massage and bodily tension-release techniques relate directly to acquiring a "seamless" non-dual perception of reality. Unless we postulate, as we should here, that mind and body are "one", so evidently releasing bodily tension helps promote spiritual insight too. That is the premise here, anyway. Unfortunately, if taken literally, this would infer that anyone who regularly underwent some kind of massage or body-work would be a spiritual giant, so obviously there are a few holes in this theory...

Lastly, let's talk a bit about the Chozen-ji school in Oahu. Founded by Japanese swordsman, calligrapher, and Zen teacher Omori Sogen, it's premise could perhaps be summarized as "zazen plus the Ways". This, of course, is an old ideal from Japanese samurai culture, which the Chozen-ji school attempts to put into practice today. Such is Omori's legacy. However, this charming ideal needs to be tempered a bit by some dark history regarding the founder (Omori), as readers of Brian Victoria's works (i.e., "Zen War Stories") knows. Omori, for all of his Zen wisdom, alas, was a zealot right-winger in Japan holding aggressive ultra-nationalistic political views, with all of the negative connotation that involves. So, readers, don't venerate these figures beyond reasonable skepticism.

As for Sayama's book, it's fun to read, but not a well-crafted book. I wish the author was as "seamless" in his selection of appropriate examples as he is promoting a "seamless" view of reality :-). Three stars, for fun reading.

Zen and the Art of Slicing Folks Up in a Mentally Healthy Way
I tried to like this book, I really did. The author's attempt to integrate Zen Buddhist meditation techniques with the insights of psychology (especially that of Jung and Maslow) seems to be very sincere and should have been interesting...it may even work as therapy, I can't say. But the first half of the book, focusing on the Zen half of his program, is utterly ahistorical; by the late 1980's we should know better than to discuss Bodhidharma and the legends about him as if he and they were literally and historically factual. The author also tries to fit way too much info into this half (of a short book at that), so that the overall effect sometimes is a string of great soundbites by the great Zen Masters (more or less plausible historically). It would have been better to focus more, I'd say. The way the author draws out a lineage here from the Buddha to Bodhidharma, Hui-neng, Lin-chi, Hakuin, Omori Sogen, Tanouye Tenshin, and Mike Sayama (himself) is a standard rhetorical tactic on the part of Zen but still seems embarrassingly self-legitimizing here.

The second half of the book tries to cover the psychotherapy angle. There are some truly interesting anecdotes here about psychotherapists like Milton Erickson and Nick Cummings, but after all is said and done it doesn't integrate well with the first half of the book (contrary to the author's plan). Yes, "Mushin" ("no-mind") seems similar to "the Unconscious" based on the surface meaning of the words, but only the most fast & loose treatment would equate them in such a facile manner.

The martial arts and Zen aspect of the book is downright creepy. Granted this book was written in the innocent (naive) days before Brian Victoria's "Zen at War", still alarms should be going off when a Buddhist monk tells a guy "Then the sword meant to strike you will instead become the sword which will strike the enemy" (p.70). So much for that good old Buddhist Compasssion. The story of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi at the conclusion is supposed to inspire us with the ideal towards which Sayama is pointing us, but subtract the mist of romanticism generated by temporal distance and you get a grisly tale of wanton violence for its own sake. This is not a helpful model of self-development no matter how jazzed up with Zen jargon and psychobabble. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive account of Robert Assagioli's psychosynthesis, a type of therapy that seeks to address both spiritual development and psychological healing and growth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Revelatory
This presentation of the Psychosynthesis therapeutic paradigm gives it depth-psychological kick, and provides tools I've found extremely useful. It lays out a theory relating to 'Primal Wounding' (which need not be interpreted as melodramatically as it sounds), a history of violations of the "I"'s relationship with a deeper and more authentic Self, which we carry around and need to resolve. That approach allows the authors to bring in much useful attachment theory, and to connect it with the trad P_Synth technologies of subpersonalities and the Will.

What's so clever is how the 'wounding' is expressed in terms of relationships with what the authors call 'external unifying centres', which could range from parents to bike clubs: anything external in which we see our identities reflected, or in Wounding, violated. This allows you to connect the personal to the societal, as well as to the developmental, in a way I think is unique, especially for a spiritual approach. The book details well how carrying these 'wounds' (which will be equivalent to energetic blockages if you like to play with that) forms social masks, from beneath which we can try to burst out in addictions and abortive attempts to break free, because the Higher or Truer in us needs to manifest but our structures may not provide the means. When we heal, our external lives and personae will be radically altered, as we quit temporizing.

These have been amongst the most instantly usable ideas I have ever employed for self-knowledge, and they deeply stirred my intuition. I made pages of notes which later produced insight after insight when applied, no matter to what. The beauty of the concept, as with so much in this stream, is its simplicity -- it is extensible in many dimensions, ethics for example, especially when seen alongside the High-Middle-Low Unconscious concept of this school, which brilliantly highlights how the good and the bad are repressed equally. The explanation of the release of genuine positive potential is clear and has proven accurate.

The 'Wounding' concept -- whose name I don't like, but whatever -- can be so flexible; I've applied it to situations which were not obvious 'wounds', but always found such insight, so many previously invisible reframes and ways forward. (Of course it's really _me_ cutting off my own Self and the pleasure of reconnection is both profoundly satisfying and reflected in energetic transformations.) The authors write well on the 'immanent-transcendent' nature of the "I", and include new spins on the traditional P_Synth 'disidentification' exercises.

These concepts will work alongside body energy approaches, for example energy exercises in a Taoist or Reichian style, Rubenfeld Synergy, or bodywork generally. But then I could see them contributing just about anywhere -- if you meditate and want to use a self-therapy, for example, I would pick this book up. (Because of P_Synth's emphasis on the Will, followers of the Hermetic exercises of Franz Bardon, or other will-based magical approaches, will find it spot on.) A psychodynamic therapist, looking for an out-of-the-box-useful link to the transpersonal, would be well-served too. In trauma, I can think of Babette Rothschild case studies (see The Body Remembers Casebook: Unifying Methods and Models in the Treatment of Trauma and PTSD) where it could be applied with great effectiveness. It is very, very generous in its universality, and by not being overly definitive, works with the flow of inspiration.

Other P_Synth books I know are What We May Be and Psychosynthesis Counselling in Action (Counselling in Action series), both of which I've also found useful. I'll certainly be reading the work of the school's founder (Roberto Assagioli, a contemporary of Jung and plainly ahead of his time) shortly, and will delve beyond.

Highly recommended.

Psychosynthesis by Assagioli
Very clear exposition of the fundamentals of Psychosynthesis counselling.I highly recommend this text for anyone studying Psychosynthesis counselling

Finally!
I have been searching since adolescence for theories in psychology that would actually be helpful to me. Though there have been many ideas that have helped, it seemed that I had reached a plateau where I felt I was quite self-aware but that just didn't seem to be enough - it didn't heal what was making my life difficult.

Reading this book has helped me see what I need beyond awareness and has also helped me to better understand the people in my life. The concepts of primal wounding, survival personality, subpersonalities, the healing power of empathic connections and a non-linear view of our development
that recognizes that our earlier experiences are not far away and insignificant, are profoundly helpful ideas.

The wounding we have suffered and the subpersonalities that have developed within us, need more than recognition, they need acceptance, inclusion and synthesis which can only happen in an atmosphere of empathy. Then, and only then, can we become authentic, fully conscious people who do not need addictions and compulsions as crutches. No wonder self-awareness is not enough!

This is not my field and I may not be able to clearly convey all the concepts in this book. I may not even understand all of them. There are stories in the book of different people as they go through psychosynthesis therapy that clarify these concepts and how they work in real people. Even though some of the expressions can be a little intimidating for lay people like myself (unifying center, the difference between "I" and "Self"), I truly believe this book can be helpful to anyone who is seeking to understand how to help heal oneself or others.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Assagioli, Gila and Firman!

Just one thing, where can I find a good psychosynthesis therapist? (-:

A clear, comprehensive introduction
Psychosynthesis may not be as popularly known as psychoanalysis, depth psychology, etc., but it holds some tremendously powerful keys for self-understanding, self-renewal, and emotional healing that in turn lead to more empathetic and authentic relationships with others.This book is a clear and comprehensive introduction to psychosynthesis, outling such fundamental concepts as primal wounding, lower and higher unconscious, and subpersonalities within a developmental framework.It has stimulated my own growth and I have been recommending this book widely. ... Read more

Product Description
"If we wish to help humans to become more fully human, we must realize not only that they try to realize themselves, but that they are also reluctant or afraid or unable to do so. Only by fully appreciating this dialectic between sickness and health can we help to tip the balance in favor of health." —Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow's theories of self-actualization and the hierarchy of human needs are the cornerstone of modern humanistic psychology, and no book so well epitomizes those ideas as his classic Toward a Psychology of Being.

A profound book, an exciting book, its influence continues to spread, more than a quarter century after its author's death, beyond psychology and throughout the humanities, social theory, and business management theory.

Of course, the book's enduring popularity stems from the important questions it raises and the answers it provides concerning what is fundamental to human nature and psychological well-being, and what is needed to promote, maintain, and restore mental and emotional well-being. But its success also has to do with Maslow's unique ability to convey difficult philosophical concepts with passion, precision, and astonishing clarity, and, through the power of his words, to ignite in readers a sense of creative joy and wholeness toward which we, as beings capable of self-actualization, strive.

This Third Edition makes Abraham Maslow's ideas accessible to a new generation of psychology students, as well as businesspeople, managers, and trainers interested in applying the study of human behavior to management techniques.

An energetic and articulate scholar, Professor Maslow was the author of more than twenty books, including Eupsychian Management; Psychology of Science; Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences; Motivation and Personality; and Principles of Abnormal Psychology (with B. Mittelmann). He also edited New Knowledge in Human Values and wrote nearly one hundred articles. His teachings continue to be a staple for psychologists and psychology students.

"Capacities clamor to be used, and cease their clamor only when they are well used. . . . Not only is it fun to use our capacities, but it is necessary for growth. The unused skill or capacity or organ can become a disease center or else atrophy or disappear, thus diminishing the person." —Abraham Maslow

Toward a Psychology of Being, Third Edition

Abraham Maslow doesn't pretend to have easy answers, absolutes, or solutions that bring the relief of finality—but he does have a deep belief in people. In this Third Edition of Toward a Psychology of Being (the original edition sold well over 100,000 copies), there is a constant optimistic thrust toward a future based on the intrinsic values of humanity. Professor Maslow states that, "This inner nature, as much as we know of it so far, seems not to be intrinsically evil, but rather either neutral or positively 'good.' What we call evil behavior appears most often to be a secondary reaction to frustration of this intrinsic nature." He demonstrates that human beings can be loving, noble, and creative, and are capable of pursuing the highest values and aspirations.

This Third Edition will bring Professor Maslow's ideas to a whole new generation of business and psychology readers, as well as anyone interested in the study of human behavior. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

MASLOW'S FOLLOW-UP TO "MOTIVATION AND PERSONALITY"
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) was an American psychologist best known for his conceptualization of a "hierarchy of human needs" and "self-actualization." He (along with Carl Rogers) is considered the founder of humanistic or "Third Force" psychology.

Maslow states in the Preface to the first edition of this 1968 book, "This book is a continuation of my 'Motivation and Personality,' published in 1954. It was constructed in about the same way, that is, by doing one piece at a time of the larger theoretical structure. It is a predecessor to work yet to be done toward the construction of a comprehensive, systematic and empirically based general psychology and philosophy which includes both the depths and the heights of human nature... I consider this book to be in the realm of science, or pre-science, rather than of exhortation, or of personal philosophy, or literary expression."

Here are some representative quotations from the book:

Self-actualization "stresses 'full humanness,' the development of the biologically based nature of man, and therefore is (empirically) normative for the whole species rather than for particular times and places, i.e., it is less culturally relative." (Preface)
"Since this inner nature is good or neutral rather than bad, it is best to bring it out and encourage it rather than to suppress it. If it is permitted to guide our life, we grow healthy, fruitful, and happy." (Ch. 1)
The humanistic school "(in the extreme instance) is equally vulnerable, for they tend to see through rose-colored glasses and generally slide over the problems of pathology, of weakness, of FAILURE to grow. One is like a theology of evil and sin excusively; the other is like a theology without any evil at all, and is therefore equally incorrect and unrealistic." (Ch. 4)
"The peak experience is felt as a self-validating, self-justifying moment which carries its own intrinsic value with it." (Ch. 6)
"If this essential core (inner nature) of the person is frustrated, denied or suppressed, sickness results, sometimes in obvious forms, sometimes in subtle and devious forms." (Ch. 14)

BRAIN CLEANSING
HOW CAN WE REALLY KNOW WHATS HAPPENING AROUND US CLEARLY UNTIL WE CAN CLEARLY KNOW OURSELVES? THIS BOOK PORTRAYS THE ENLIGHTENED INDIVIDUAL AS A WELL ADJUSTED HUMAN BEING WHOSE PERSPECTIVE MAKES IT FAR EASIER FOR HIM TO RELATE TO HIS ENVIORMENT AND THOSE IN IT. THIS BOOK WILL DRIVE HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF REACTING TO YOUR EXPIERIENCES WITHOUT CLOUDING YOUR MIND WITH UNRELATED THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS. AN INTERESTING AND EASY READ.

A New Model of Humankind
A better understanding Maslow can best be accomplished if we are able to set aside preconceptions about what a human being is. Dr. Maslow wrote for his colleagues, not for the masses. His work is very hard sledding for laypersons. However, those who make the effort will find it a rewarding journey. "Toward a Psychology of Being" is a valuable read for psychologists and scientists, as well as religionists and philosophers. But perhaps patient lay persons will be best rewarded because they will be less hampered by the logic tight compartments of science, religion and philosophy. Maslow defied the Aristotelian barriers between the disciplines and suggests a model of humankind that is vastly more profound than Freud or Watson or Skinner. He observes in "Toward a Psychology of Being" that a biologist had recently announced that he had found the missing link between anthropoid apes and civilized man: "It is us!" Indeed, we are in the process of becoming, and in this book he begins to unfold his more astonishing concepts about peak experiences and metamotivations. Dr. Maslow declares in this book that his "Psychology of Science" will carry his expanding vision of human possibilities even farther, and clearly demonstrate "... that the life of science can be a life of passion, of beauty, of hope for humankind, and a revelation of values."Maslow's life was all these things. Regrettably perhaps, as Colin Wilson pointed out, his most valuable later works (such as "Toward a Psychology of Being," "The Psychology of Science: a reconnaissance," "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature," and "Religions, Values and Peak Experiences,") are generally stuff for the 21st century.

happy
Happy with the book, it is cleanand arrivedon time. Thaks !

How could this book possibly cost $50?
This book was not written as a textbook - it was written as a standard work of non-fiction. 15 years ago it cost $8.How can they charge $50 for it?

I believe we have to take these factors into account when discussing the merits of a book.This price is really out of hand. ... Read more

Product Description
Humanistic Psychology: A Clinical Manifesto is destined to impact not only the face of humanistic psychology, but the field of psychotherapy in general. David N. Elkins, a long time leading voice in humanistic psychology, presents a compelling case about what is wrong with contemporary psychotherapy and how, through a re-envisioned humanistic psychology, it needs to change. The book challenges the medical model in psychotherapy and summarizes contemporary analyses and meta-analyses of psychotherapy research that make it clear that "contextual factors" -- not techniques -- are the primary determinants of therapeutic effectiveness.With a foreword written by Natalie Rogers, daughter of Carl Rogers, one of the most influential clinical psychologists of the past century, Elkins is already receiving the praise from many leading figures in the humanistic psychology movement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Humanistic Psychotherapy, Humanistic Healing....
Elkins' book is misnamed, as it shouldn't be limited to psychology.Though "Manifesto" fits well:it describes basic principles that have strong training, practice & political implications."Manifesto" also points to what's manifest, what's obvious in light of most-recent science.

Summarizing the many good meta-analyses of psychotherapy research over the past 15 years or so, Elkins makes several key points.First, psychotherapy is, indeed, proven effective.Second, brief psychotherapy has not been established as always equally effective to longer forms.(See his Chapter 2, "Short-Term, Linear Approaches to Psychotherapy:What We Now Know".)And third, what heals, what "works" about psychotherapy isn't mostly diagnosis & technique, isn't the medical model & the "manual model" of the so-called "empirically supported treatments" (which, by the way, I often use).Psychotherapy heals through "contextual factors", meaning those factors "common to all therapeutic systems", common to all psychotherapies - cognitive-behavioral, family therapy, psychodynamic therapy and even humanistic therapy.Contextual factors include:the alliance between therapist and client, personal qualities of the therapist, the relationship between client and therapist, client expectations & resources, "a plausible rationale and set of procedures", etc.(See especially, Chapter 3, "Empirically Supported Treatments:The Deconstruction of a Myth".)

Much of this has been well-demonstrated, and further demonstrations are continuing.Two key books that extensively, carefully review the psychotherapy research evidence -- The Heart and Soul of Change: Delivering What Works in Therapy and The Great Psychotherapy Debate: Models, Methods, and Findings (LEA's Counseling and Psychotherapy Series) -- are both due out, December 2009, in updated 2nd editions. So why buy & read Elkins?

Elkins is an engaging writer, and "Humanistic Psychology" is a highly readable summary & introduction.But there's more here, much more, and it starts with his first chapter, "Whatever Happened to Carl Rogers?An Examination of the Politics of Clinical Psychology".One way to summarize, and over-simplify, the research is:Carl Rogers was right.His "necessary & sufficient conditions", set forth in 1958, have held up.(See The Carl Rogers Reader & my review.)Indeed, these "conditions" - especially empathy, unconditional positive regard/prizing & congruence/genuineness -- are the most research-validated findings in all psychotherapy, this over more than half a century.

So why, then, when I was taught masters-level social work at The University of Chicago -- where Rogers taught for many years, where he wrote "Necessary & Sufficient Conditions", where one of his key students (Eugene Gendlin) was still teaching, which had the #1 ranked social work school in the country - why was Carl Rogers never mentioned, much less carefully taught?This in a good school that prided itself on research.Why didn't my training highlight those factors shown to be most effective in psychotherapy?Why was my training focused on specific diagnosis & technique, which explains far less of the effectiveness of psychotherapy?(In fairness, these meta-analyses were not, then, as available.Though we did know, we were told that research showed all psychotherapies equally effective.)

Answers to these questions, along with that research, are at the heart of Elkins' book and they're what makes it a "manifesto".These reasons "why" involve many factors, such as economic pressures, academic/political turf-building, basic assumptions in our society, and rejection, ignoring or downplaying such key variables as spiritual concerns & a meaning to suffering beyond disease & symptomology.

That's what makes this book well-worth the buying & reading.Though I quibble with some of his "what we must do" - not so much in what Elkins says, as in what he omits.

Disclosure:I'm a clinical social worker, and of my six "genius" teachers, four of them were students of Carl Rogers.I've met Dave Elkins once, and I found him a kindred spirit in many ways, especially in what social workers are routinely taught, and what psychologists generally lack - an eye for the various forms of power, and so an eye for not only psychological explanations & solutions, but also the need for community-based, political explanations & solutions, too.Including the need for speaking out & doing something.

And that's what Elkins does so well:clear summaries of research, explanations why this research isn't better known & better heeded, and proposals on what clinicians need to do.

My quibbles with Elkins?Let me state that my disagreements build on his premises, and so they're less important than my agreements, and they're meant, in no way, to diminish the force of this book.First, I think Elkins misses the additional power gained by combining humanistic therapies with aspects of the medical model, used in a humanistic way, at least with my client population.I work with clients who are complex & multi-problem, who have often experienced severe trauma (such as abuse, neglect & combat), who often have more biologically-based issues such as autism, bipolar, TBI & OCD (though nothing is ever ONLY biological; it's always also part of a real person).I think using techniques & DSM diagnoses in a humanistic way combines different powers, and so I can better reach, congruently match & effectively help more people heal.I also believe that Elkins doesn't fully take in economic limitations, especially in third world counties and in areas of the US where money is never likely to flow.Therefore, more radical solutions, such as teaching these "contextual factors" to laypersons - which are being successfully done by some of my colleagues - should also be included in his solutions.(This, by the way, has also be demonstrated effective by research.)

But again, our differences are less vital than our similarities.And they in no way take away the value of this book.Please buy it, read it, think about it, and do something.

I close with a poem by D.H. Lawrence with which Elkins closes his chapter on creating a new metaphor for psychotherapy, one that moves beyond the medical model, one that captures scientifically-demonstrated contextual factors.It's one that touches me, especially about my child clients with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) or my clients with combat PTSD.The chapter the poem closes -- "The Deep Poetic Soul:An Alternative Vision of Psychotherapy" -- I found useful in compassionately understanding & effectively helping these very challenging, very needful clients.It's entitled "Healing"

I am not a mechanism, an
assembly of various sections
And it is not because the mechanism
is working wrongly that I am ill
I am ill because of wounds to the soul
to the deep emotional self
And the wounds to the soul
Take a long, long time
Only time can help
and patience
And a certain difficult repentance,
Long, difficult repentance,
Realization of life's mistake,
And freeing oneself from the
endless repetition of the mistake
Which mankind at large has
chosen to sanctify.

Some good words for healing, for our clients.And for us. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

Scandalous
Who is Joyce Milton?We have no testimony as to her personage or her credentials.We know that she is something of a biographer, but does she have the background to merit her assessment herein as credible?Anyone might guess because finding information on this author is like doing research on a psychic presence in an abandon warehouse.Even Wikipedia, a notoriously hyperbolic source of quasi-information has no "knowledge" of this author.

The information in this book is scandalous, if not dubious.An entire field of expertise can be placed under scrutiny as fallacious if what Milton claims can be corroborated.Maslow, Rogers, and a whole host of pioneers to social-psychology work are portrayed as conniving narcissists with self-promoting agendas.According to Milton, these social "scientists" forsook good research for the sake of futhering the fame of their claims.If we are to believe this author, nearly all of what we may have assumed to be accurate premises behind counseling and education is nothing short of farcical.

Worth reading, Joyce Milton's work in "Malpsychia" may have more in common with the Lifestyles section of a local newpaper than with academic pursuits.There is a distinct tone of suspicion akin to a jaded journalist or even a gossipy neighbor.Still, the book may serve the purpose of reminding the reader that not everything is as it may seem, even in what we call science.

Get a better understanding of the society in which we live.
How many of us had to go through "Diversity Training" or "DARE" or other groups and didn't feel quite right about it?

Everyone should read this book. It connects a lot of dots. The people discussed in this book may not be known by everyone, but everyone feels the effects of their ideas. Just knowing the origins of some of the revolutionary cultural influences in our society may be enough to somewhat innoculate you from the effects.

Poorly written term paper
This neoconservative attack on psychology is no better written or researched than the average term paper. The author simply summarizies bits from other books and adds her cynical, hateful comments. She especially loves to find negative gossip about the great psychologists, as if they should have been perfect human beings. Do we really need to suffer through another Republican screed against psychology? This is an addition to the sub-genre of books by authors who hate the idea that psychlogists actually try to help people. How dare they? Don't they know that all the answers are in the bible?Does the author even understand that the psychologists she throws mud at actually promoted personal responsibility and social interest? She seems to have started her research in the library with a hatred of psychologists (who, after all, were only trying to find ways to help people) and only paid attention to whatever bits of misguided criticism she could find. Then she paraphrased other people's criticisms and called it a book. It's actually a pathography, a relentless focus on the negative. If that's how you want to spend your time, feel free. I regret wasting my time on it.

Wondering who hurt joyce milton?
This is a very angry and hurtful book.It is both biased and gossipy.We were interested in reading the book because we believe that there is value in building each other up as people and would like to understand the difficulties that come with attempting to change the way we look at ourselves.The world is full of hurt and anger and we find it quite ironic that Joyce Milton would would write such a scathing angry mean spirited book about those who attempted to elevate humanity; whatever the outcome of those attempts.

If you want a non-biased account of the greatness and the faults associated with this movement and its theories then you should not invest you time and energy into this book.If you have already spawned an anger and judgment of human potential psychology then again there is no point to read this book, it is just more of the same.You have already made a judgment and the author does not offer anything tangible since she does not give supporting documentation for very harsh accusations she makes of peoples lives.

A flawed but important work
It's easy enough to find fault with this book:it's poorly organized, there is a lot of material in it (on Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict, for instance) that does not belong, and there is a lot that belongs but is not in it (many of the lesser lights of the T-group movement, for example).It's very gossipy ways that will offend even those with a prurient interest.Much of what the author claims is not documented.And so forth.But with all that, I found it a valuable book.Its overall story is valuable and persuasive.The T-groups, the Encounter movement, EST, the Esalen crowd, they are all shown for what they are, and convincingly so.The "humanistic psychology" movement was ( is ?) deplorable and a bit of a menace, and Joyce Milton, with all the faults of this book, has shown how and why this is so. ... Read more

Product Description
Summarizes Grof's experiences and observations from more than forty years of research into non-ordinary states of consciousness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Psychology of the Future
It's rare to find a textbook that is both extremely informative and enjoyable to read. Psychology of the Future has to be one of the first ones I've ever come across. I think that textbooks are often like lecturers. The good ones provide information that you want to learn about. After the lecture or book is complete, you have a few tidbits of knowledge that you can relate to your own life or work. The great ones, though, provide examples so that you can immediately see the potential uses of these theories and concepts. You leave these lectures or books filled with ideas and an eagerness to learn more about these subjects.

Psychology of the Future is definitely in the later category. Each chapter brought an entirely new concept, theory, or method (from the potential biographical nature of birth experiences to underlying causes of emotional disorder through the types of spiritual emergencies to death experiences) that was just as engaging as the previous one. By the time I was done the book, I had a list of topics that I wanted to look at in greater depth and a number of possibilities about how these concepts could relate to my current work.

Old School
Grof used to be a pioneer, and it is true he did a good deal to advance certain theories in the 60's and 70's. However, that is essentially where he stopped. One author indicated Grof "used" to be a psychoanalyst, but really he still is. He never got over his "birth trauma" which he has been spouting off about for 30 years. Very psychoanalytic stuff, very old school. Also, Grof remains a medical-model thinker in the world of consciousness exploration. So, he is always detached, taking notes, but not essentially participating in the realm of personal transformation (hence 30 years of working through his birth trauma). He is not the Shaman, he is the one taking pictures and EKG's of the Shaman. To him the Shamanic world is what we experience in an altered state of consciousness, but for the Shaman the world he visits is valid and real. That is a big difference. This applies equally to transformation of consciousness such as samadhi, kundalini, dharmakaya, whatever - Grof studied it as an object of study, not as an experiential reality.

Excellent!
In my opinion, Stanislav Grof is the best, or at least one of the best, in his field of study.I have read most of his books and participated in a Holotropic Breathwork seminar weekend in Vermont.I highly recommend any educated person to familiarize him/herself with Grof's work (all of his books very informative and really make one think) and try a Holotropic Breathwork session.

An easy introduction to Grof
This was my introduction to stanislav's ideas.This book is almost a chapter by chapter introduction to all of Grof's different areas of research and writing.The written experiences of holotropic states are entertaining and informative.This book adds a needed understanding to psychology by examining consciousness around the time of birth.The author is obviously well versed on many topics, and presents sound logic and arguments throughout.Holotropic breathwork might be very useful for anyone suffering from their personality (especially to those that are fear based).This book is a relative easy introduction to Grof's ideas, and a welcomed step to combining science with unbiased spirituality.

Consciousnessresearch on the cutting edge

I first encountered Stanislav Grof in the late 'seventies at a seminar held in Pacific Grove, California. He was a featured speaker, and to say that I was impressed would be an understatement.

In this book, he discusses transpersonal psychology, involving a shift in awareness.Our psychologists and psychiatrists need to engage themselves in this transformational system and get outside the accepted paradigm of the current model of reality that scientists work within today, accepting certain basic assumptions, and move on to the equivalent of the quantum theory of consciousness.

He points out in another of his books, Beyond the Brain, that the Newtonian/Cartesian paradigm (a system of thought based on the work of Isaac Newton and Rene Descartes) is still accepted and the orthodox foundation of precepts in use in psychiatry, psychology, anthropology and medicine. He points out that physics has moved on to a new paradigm: relativity and quantum theory and beyond, while the previously named sciences have languished, and opines that it is time for psychiatrists and psychologists to re-examine their fundamental belief structure as well.

Grof said, at the seminar, that he was originally--in Czechoslovakia where he originated--a dyed-in-the-wool Freudian, until he began to perceive difficulties with that approach. He grew from there. He was one of the original medical investigators to use d-lysergic acid diethylamide in serious psychiatric research, from which he derived some astonishing results.

Grof was formerly Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is no lightweight airhead, but rather is a highly qualified, credentialed and credible researcher. This and his other books are well worth your time, if you have the necessary vocabulary and the scientific background to benefit from them.

Grof makes a bold argument that understanding of the perinatal and transpersonal levels changes much of how we view both mental illness and mental health. His research in transpersonal experience evokes serious questions into such areas as reincarnation and the spritual side of the human being.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre,

author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
and other books

... Read more

Product Description
Beyond the Brain seriously challenges the existing neurophysiological models of the brain. After three decades of extensive research on those non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by psychedelic drugs and by other means, Grof concludes that our present scientific world view is as inadequate as many of its historical predecessors. In this pioneering work, he proposes a new model of the human psyche that takes account of his findings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Is this an echo in my head?
Stanislav Grof discusses, introduces some great ideas. Many of these would constitute as revolutionary for most of us.
My issue with his book-reference to the review title- is that he repeats himself so much that reading the book became less fun than Chinese torture.
Also he would like to disprove many of today's traditional psychiatric school's findings, but he has a difficult time to built up a comprehensive argument to support his ideas.
I suspect that this is more a sign of bad penmanship than the absence of valuable findings in his field of study.
Still I would recommend the book, because it just might wake people up to a brave new world...

Not for the faint-hearted
I can't say I'm as enthusiastic about this book as all the other reviewers are.I read this shortly after finishing Grof's book "LSD Psychotherapy", which I found to be an interesting, even excellent, read."Beyond the Brain" certainly has exciting ideas in it, and is a strong attempt to look at the idea of consciousness in a new light.Grof has much to say about the Newtonian-Cartesian worldview, and makes plain its deficiencies in relation to our concept of the human mind.The book is well researched and covers a lot of ground.Much of what Grof writes about here relates to the field of physics, which he appears to have a firm grasp of.

But, it's also long (400+ pages of text), verbose, and convoluted.A great deal of the book involves psychological/emotional issues, which Grof categorizes according to his concept of "COEX systems".He also discussed the COEX idea at some length in "LSD Psychotherapy", but I just can't buy into the COEX paradigm.As another reviewer pointed out, it pins most psychological issues directly to residual birth trauma.

If you want a very complex, thought provoking read, this should be just the thing.But don't say you weren't warned.

Plenty of nuggets in the goldfield
This book is a bit like a gold mine.There are plenty of nuggets there, but I also found a lot of gravel.I'm no psychotherapist, and I do buy into the concept of a holographic universe and transendental consciousness, which is heady stuff indeed, but the insistance that almost all psychological issues are tied in with birth trauma (perinatal matrices), and the constant references to LSD studies got a bit tiresome after a time.I found the summary of the major (historical) contributors to the field of psychotherapy excellent, and much food for thought in Grof's appoaches to mental "illness" (noting, that he seriously challenges the usual definitions of mental illness, and, indeed, mental wellness).For me the book was a bit of a plow, but definitely worth it for the nuggets.

A NEW VIEW OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE AND ITS POTENTIAL FORGROWTH
BEYOND THE BRAIN presents the distilled essence of the lifework of Stanislav Grof, M.D.: the insights and conclusions he has come to as a result of his seventeen years as a
pioneering LSD psychotherapist.

The opening chapter explores the convergence of modern physics with ancient mysticism, and the resulting radical implications for human psychology, thus setting the stage for the rest of the book.

Chapter two, "Dimensions of the Human Psyche: Cartography of Inner Space," describes the stages a person passes through when undergoing a series of low-dose psychedelic therapy sessions; these stages correspond to increasingly deeper layers of the psyche.

During the first few therapy sessions, one relives childhood traumas.Subsequent sessions gradually deepen into a reliving of one's birth, and a confrontation with death.After many such death-rebirth sessions, one experiences the final ego death: a profound psychospiritual annihilation, followed by visions of blinding white supernatural light, with feelings of ecstasy and rebirth.All subsequent psychedelic sessions are transpersonal: embryonic memories, encountering deceased relatives, ESP episodes, etc.

These three levels of the psyche, as revealed by LSD psychotherapy--biographical, death-rebirth, and transpersonal--provide a working model of the psyche.

Chapter three, "The World of Psychotherapy: Towards an Integration of Approaches," describes and critiques about a dozen major schools of psychotherapy from Freud, Adler, and Jung through Maslow and the modern experiential therapies of gestalt, primal scream, and bodywork.Grof feels that each is talking about a different level of the psyche: Freud deals with events occurring since birth, Reich and Rank describe the birth trauma, while Jung and Maslow focus on the transpersonal/spiritual dimension.The author integrates all into a coherent whole: while acknowledging childhood influences, he sees the trauma of birth as primary; he also recognizes the profound healing potential of ecstatic mystical/peak experiences.

Chapter four, "The Architecture of Emotional Disorders," is for me the core of the book.It examines how the birth trauma is the root cause of much psychopathology, from sexual dysfunctions and variations (impotence, sadomasochism, etc.), to extreme violence and aggression (such as serial murders), to neuroses (anxiety, depression, psychosomatic symptoms, and the like), to psychosis.Grof holds out hope of healing for all mental/emotional illness; even with psychosis, he has found that deliberately intensifying symptoms, using experiential or psychedelic therapy, leads to a radical breakthrough and positive resolution.

Chapter five explains why the medical model is ineffective and inappropriate in psychiatry; rather than suppression of symptoms, the author has found that purposefully intensifying symptoms results in spontaneous, autonomous healing.

In chapter six, the various mechanisms of healing are discussed, from abreaction and catharsis, to death-rebirth experiences and reliving fetal traumas, to direct mystical/peak experiences of the divine.

Chapter seven describes hyperventilation therapy as well as other nondrug experiential therapies.It also outlines the basic principles of psychotherapy; Grof Feels that "the psychotherapeutic process is not the treatment of a disease, but an adventure of self-exploration and self-discovery....the client is the main protagonist with full responsibility.The therapist functions as a facilitator" (p. 375).

The book concludes with an epilogue, a fascinating examination of how "in wars and revolutions nations act out a group fantasy of birth" (p. 423), as documented by psychohistorian Lloyd de Mause.

Scattered throughout the book are three dozen or so illustrations, mostly from the author's and others' LSD psychotherapy sessions, which suitably enhance the text and help bring it to life.

This book is not light reading, but to the intellectually curious, motivated layperson or psychotherapist, I believe it will yield its fruits and prove itself well worth reading.

It has served as a guidebook on my own psychotherapeutic journey (involving legal, safe psychedelic therapy complemented by hyperventilation therapy), helping me understand what I am going through, and letting me know what to expect next; it has also helped me understand other people, including their religious fanaticism, sexual preferences, and even, with several persons, their psychotic symptoms.

In conclusion, if I could have only one book in my library (beyond a dictionary and a Bible), BEYOND THE BRAIN: BIRTH, DEATH, AND TRANSCENDENCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY would be that book.

Other books by Stanislav Grof which I've enjoyed: THE ADVENTURE OF SELF-DISCOVERY, about the author's form of group hyperventilation therapy (which as therapeutic effects similar to psychedelic therapy); LSD PSYCHOTHERAPY, guidelines for psychedelic therapists; and STORMY SEARCH FOR THE SELF, written by Stanislav with his wife Christina, about difficult spontanious psychospiritual awakenings--such as triggered by mystical, near-death, or UFO experiences, and including Christinas's own kundalini/alcoholism crisis--which are often mis-diagnosed as psychosis, and yet have the potential for radical growth and healing.

Challenges the existing paradigm

I first encountered Stanislav Grof in the late 'seventies at a seminar held in Pacific Grove, California.He was a featured speaker, and to say that I was impressed would be an understatement.

In this book, he speaks of paradigms--the model of reality that scientists work within, accepting certain basic assumptions.He points out that the Newtonian/Cartesian paradigm (a system of thought based on the work of Isaac Newton and Rene Descartes) is still accepted and the orthodox foundation of precepts in use in psychiatry, psychology, anthropology and medicine.He points out that physics has moved on to a new paradigm: relativity and quantum theory and beyond, while the previously named sciences have languished, and opines that it is time for them to re-examine their fundamental belief structure as well.

Grof said, at the seminar, that he was originally--in Czechoslovakia where he originated--a dyed-in-the-wool Freudian, until he began to perceive difficulties with that approach.He grew from there.He was one of the original medical investigators to use
d-lysergic acid diethylamide in serious psychiatric research, from which he derived some astonishing results.

Grof was formerly Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.He is no lightweight airhead, but rather is a highly qualified, credentialed and credible researcher.This and his other books are well worth your time, if you have the necessary vocabulary and the scientific background to benefit from them.

Grof makes a bold argument that understanding of the perinatal and transpersonal levels changes much of how we view both mental illness and mental health.His research in transpersonal experience evokes serious questions into such areas as reincarnation and the spritual side of the human being.

Joseph H. Pierre [...] ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Worth the read...
...for anyone pursuing degrees in psychology and counseling. Just as we must study Freud and Jung to understand the roots of psychology and psychoanalysis, it is essential that we also understand the roots of all theories and their histories. I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Product Description
A bold new view of the human psyche, integrating Eastern and Western approaches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A highly recommended supplementary text especially recommended for psychologists and psychotherapists
Brant Cortright (Professor of Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies) presents Integral Psychology: Yoga, Growth, and Opening the Heart, a daring new approach to psychology and healing that seeks to learn from Eastern methods that focus on the inner being and the psyche's spiritual foundation, as well as the Western methods that focus on the outer being and the injuries of body, heart, mind, and self. Chapters apply classical East Indian yogas as a means to perceive psychotherapy: psychotherapy as behavior change or karma yoga, psychotherapy as mindfulness practice or jnana yoga, and psychotherapy as opening the heart or bhakti yoga. An approach that combines the best of both worlds for psychological and spiritual healing and self-improvement lies at the heart of Integral Psychology. Though Integral Psychology touches upon spirituality, the concepts presented are emphatically not meant to convert the reader to any specific religion, but rather to promote healing and wellness for patients of all faiths and cultural backgrounds. The result is a highly recommended supplementary text especially recommended for psychologists and psychotherapists.

Psychology's Future
I frequently felt touched by the obvious sensitivity and care taken by Dr. Cortright in writing "Integral Psychology: Yoga, Growth and Opening the Heart".

"Integral Psychology" reaches beyond the bounds of empirical science to embrace the spiritual, and indeed the soul. Dr. Cortright insists this bold extension is essential for psychology if it is ever going to discover the defining essence of the human being.In looking to psychology's future, Dr. Cortright proposes a synthesis of western psychology and eastern spirituality.This synthesis is based on the life work of the great twentieth century Indian sage Sri Aurobindo.

Bringing western psychology and eastern spirituality together facilitates opening the heart. Both western psychology and eastern spirituality aspire to open the heart, although, as Dr. Cortright explains, each opens different areas of the heart.To open the heart fully they need each other.Opening the heart clears the way to discover the soul, the eternal core of the human psyche.

"Integral Psychology" is not a religious or dogmatic book.It is a thoughtful characterisation of the psychology traditions of the east and the west, with a result that is inclusive and respectful of both.This book challenges the rational mind and entices those serious about psychology and psychotherapy toward a deeper and expanded perspective.

Dr. Cortright gives us a new look at practical psychology.From this perspective, it is within our human potential to know our true self and the most profound purpose of physical existence.Reflecting the optimism of Sri Aurobindo, "Integral Psychology" embraces the notion, basic to eastern psychology, but revolutionary in western psychology, "that our deepest identity is a self-existent joy, love and light."

Our most essential identity is our soul, which is itself a spark of Divine love.Congruent with our deepest human aspirations, integral psychology aims to move us into alignment with our soul's consciousness.Expressing this unification in daily life is the next step in human potential and the goal of integral psychology.

Understanding Integral Psychology
Integral Psychology: Yoga, Growth and Opening the Heart, by Brant Cortright

Having read Dr. Cortright's earlier Psychotherapy and Spirit, I was pleased to discover that Integral Psychology was available this year, and read it immediately upon receiving it.It's been ten years since the earlier publication, and the author has [from my long-distance observation] made important progress in his spiritual growth, opening of the heart, and writing style during this time.

The book is based upon Sri Aurobindo's complex Integral understanding, and though it focuses upon psychological aspects of that theory, the spiritual and developmental features are also mentioned.Through Ken Wilbur's use of the term `Integral', many have become interested in the concept; Dr. Cortright presents a fuller explanation of how Aurobindo's thinking can be related to psychotherapeutic theory and practice.

It's a pleasure to read someone who is so steeped in an Eastern approach, and who can relate it to contemporary psychological, clinical issues.For example, whole chapters link behavior change therapy to karma yoga, mindfulness to jnana yoga, and heart-opening to bhakti yoga.In these and other chapters, sometimes with clinical examples, Dr. Cortright demonstrates his superior integration of Aurobindo's original theory, his own adaptations, and his use of such understanding in psychotherapy.

Some readers will be most touched by the early chapter, The Core Wounding of Our Time.Based in part on ego-psychology and self-psychology, Dr. Cortright suggests that "The core wounding of our time is a rip in the very fabric of the self", and goes on to suggest that it effects the mind, higher-, central-, and lower-emotional aspects, as well as the body and spirit.This essentially diagnostic chapter is an important precursor to the later therapeutic orientation.Others may be more interested in the concept and approach to spiritual emergency; since I've had little clinical experience with this proposed entity I found it less compelling.

More broadly, for the reader interested in the possibility of integrating the integral theory of Sri Aurobindo and the thinking of a contemporary clinician and Professor [California Institute of Integral Studies], this book is highly recommended.

What a Map!
Brant Cortright's Integral Psychology was for me a reader's digest version of the entire history of Psychology and Transpersonal Psychology into the even deeper realms of our being with Shri Aurobindo's " Integral Yoga".His "map" showed me, in a remarkably concise way, the ever deepening paths of the west and the profoundly deep offering from the east ofgrowing through the opening of our hearts and souls. For the beginner, what an overview this is and for the advanced one, what an acknowledgment of spirit and matter in it's evolution! ... Read more

Product Description
Humanistic Psychology ranges far and wide into education, management, gender issues and many other fields. Ordinary Ecstasy , first published in 1976, is widely regarded as one of the most important books on the subject. Although this new edition still contains much of the original material, it has been completely rethought in the light of postmodern ideas, with more emphasis on the paradoxes within humanistic psychology, and takes into account changes in many different areas, with a greatly extended bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ordinary Ecstasy: The Dialectics of Humanistic Psychology by John Rowan [Paperback]
I was happy with the purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
An examination of four decades of research and practice in humanistic psychology, this work highlights the lasting contributions of humanistic psychology to the science of psychology and to the pursuit of personal and spiritual development. It explores the passions and goals of the founders and their vital legacy for the 21st century. ... Read more

Product Description
Jung and Eastern Thought is an assessment of the impact of the East on Jung's life and teaching. Along with the strong and continuing interest in the psychology of Carl Jung is a growing awareness of the extent to which Eastern thought, especially Indian ideas, influenced his thinking. This book identifies those influences that he found useful and those he rejected. In Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist cultures, yoga is a central conception and practice. Jung was at once fascinated and critical of yoga. Part I of the book examine's Jung's encounter with yoga and his strong warning against the uncritical adoption of yoga by the modern West. In Part II Jung's love/hate relationship with Eastern thought is examined in light of his attitude toward karma and rebirth, Kundalini yoga, mysticism, and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Coward observations are rounded out by contributions from J. Borelli and J. Jordens. Dr. Borelli's Annotated Bibliography is an in valuable contribution to bibliographic material on Jung's most senior North American student and one of the few Jungians to have recognized the important influence of the East on Jung's thinking. --- from book's back cover ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Jung and Eastern Thought
The text was very helpful in understanding many significant differences between the Eastern and Western thought in regards to spiritual consciousness.Jung helps us understand the Western unconscous mind and its relationship to the pro and cons of the practice of Yoga.

Excellent comparison of Jung mostly with Hindu thought
This is a well-written book balancing Jungian & Eastern thought in an unbiased manner-both similarities & differences.It covers yoga (Patanjali's)/Taoism; alchemy/Gnosticism, the collective unconscious=Self/ Brahman, synchronicity; mandalas/quaternity/circumambulation, karma/reincarnation, prana/libido/prajna, & Upanishads/kundalini.It has general topics & a very detailed comparison of Jung/Patanjali's yoga with considerable discussion of the Upanishads.Thus, it focuses mainly on Hinduism.There are a great many parallels, if not identities, between numerous concepts & views: p. 5: quoting Jung: "Taoist philosophy as well as yoga have very many parallels with the psychic processes we can observe in Western man."Perhaps the main similarities lie in the extensive comparisons of Jung's libido vs. yoga's prana, self-knowledge & prajna, mandalas & circumambulation as symbols of wholeness/Self, the relationship between the self & the All, & yoga vs. psychotherapy.It is erudite, convincing, yet readable.

Main differences between Jung & Eastern thought include Jung's view of the 2 directions-[Western extroverted sensing thinking judging (ESTJ) vs. Eastern introverted intuitive feeling perceiving (INFP)]:
p. 8: "The truth of the East is not in the Eastern way itself, but in the demonstrated need for a balance between intellect and intuition, between thinking and feeling...To be overbalanced in any one aspect of consciousness is a sign of immaturity and "barbarism", to use Jung's word for it. Consequently, it is not the case that the modem West should give up its highly developed scientific intellect-only that the intuitive and feeling aspects of psychic function must achieve an equally high development in Western consciousness so that a creative balance can be achieved, and a widening of consciousness result. While Jung openly admired the Eastern yoga principle of inclusiveness and balance between the opposing aspects of psychic function, it is clear that he felt that the East had overstressed the intuitive, just as the modem West had over-developed the scientific."
p. 14: "In Jung's view any unbalance in the split of psychic energy, while it may produce the short-term gains of rigorous specialization (e. g., modern Western technology), will, in the long run, prove detrimental."

This is the basis for Jung's several arguments against Westerners directly adopting Eastern methods:
p. 18: "Here Jung again sounds his warning that the solution for the Westerner cannot be found by taking up the direct practice of Eastern yoga. Says Jung, the neurosis or split within consciousness would then simply be intensified But what can be learned from the East is a general approach to be adopted so that the split, the imbalance between the opposites may be brought into harmony."
p. 22: "because the Westerner typically does not know his own unconscious, it is quite likely that when he finds the East strange and hard to understand he will project onto it everything he fears and despises in himself...he felt the direct practice of yoga by a Westerner would only serve to strengthen his will and consciousness and so further intensify the split with the unconscious...The outcome would be just as disastrous for the Western neurotic who suffers from the opposite problem of a lack of development of the conscious and a predominance of the unconscious."
p. 23: "Jung pointed out that if we try to snatch spiritual techniques directly from the East `'we have merely indulged our Western acquisitiveness, confirming yet again that 'everything good is outside.'"

Specific differences include those between Jungian empirical psychology & Eastern philosophy:
p. 61: "lack of distinction between philosophy and psychology that seems to typify much Eastern thought."
p. 62: "the older psychologies of the East and the medieval West are founded on metaphysical concepts which often have little relation to empirical facts."
p. 104: "Throughout his life Jung admitted his strong attraction to Indian karma and reincarnation theory, but its lack of empirical verification was the obstacle to its full acceptance."
p. 188: "The error of Eastern thought in this regard is that it is not firmly grounded in the empirical method and instead has allowed itself to become lost in unsupportable metaphysical speculation."
p. 189: "Jung never thought of his own psychology as a closed theory. To his last years he remained open to new ideas that could come from either East or West.But throughout his life it was his activity as a psychotherapist that kept Jung skeptical of Eastern metaphysics and rooted in the tradition of Western medical science."

Nonetheless, Jung strongly supported studying Eastern thought & adapting it to Western usage:
p. 9: "The West must not simply attempt to copy the Eastern spiritual yoga, or the East blindly adopt Western science. Each should study the other and gain inspiration from its example, but each must pursue its own development within its own historical consciousness.'"
p. 23: "we must get at Eastern values from within and not from without, seeking them in ourselves, in the unconscious."
While this may seem antithetical to Eastern approaches, the Buddha advised individuals to carefully weigh his words themselves and see how applicable they were to them.Also Vajrayana masters continue to advise caution in accepting a guru/lama and even in considering what the guru tells the to do-in light of their individual discriminating wisdom.

Most interesting is the high impact issue of full Samadhi (absorption or Buddhahood) which Jung denied since it involves the dissolution of the ego and, thus, of individual consciousness:
p. 142: "Can there be mystical experience without an individual ego?" Or put another way, ''Is unlimited consciousness of the fullness of reality psychologically possible?"
p. 161: Jung: "They do not realize that a 'universal consciousness' is a contradiction in terms, since exclusion, selection, anti discrimination are the root and essence of everything; that lays claim to the name 'consciousness"
p. 177: "To Jung, consciousness is very narrowly defined as that quality of being related to the ego. `Consciousness needs a center, an ego to which something is conscious.We know of no other kind of consciousness, nor can we imagine a consciousness without an ego.'"
However, IMHO this revolves around a differing definition of consciousness.And, even Jung once implied that it might be possible for the Self to assume consciousness vs. the ego.Of course, Jung viewed himself as an empiricist and, apparently, never met an actual Buddha. ... Read more

Product Description
Outlines how a new working partnership between psychologists and evolutionary systems scientists can help create a more humanistic evolutionary theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great reading
I confess I came to this book not as an expert of evolutionary theory, but as a person with a deep passion for futures and the development of the human species. In particular, my personal research relates to educational futures and the futures of consciousness. Thus the critique that follows cannot stand as that of an "impartial" expert's opinion, but merely as the considerations of a relative layman in the field of evolutionary theory. Considering my particular research foci, I found much in the volume to enthuse about.
The contributors to this volume are all members of the General Evolution Research Group. This was formed in 1986, and its purpose is "to bring together a small group of scholars from a variety of disciplines and nations to explore possibilities for the development of a general...evolution theory" (p.304). Ervin Laszlo is its primary founder and leader, with World Futures: the Journal of General Evolution being its mouthpiece.
Let me begin by stating that this is not only a well-written volume, but a necessary one. As Loye points out in the concluding chapter regarding the idea of "evolution," the mindsets of most scientists (and indeed the layperson), have been seized so thoroughly by the concepts of natural selection and blind chance that anyone challenging this idea with suggestions of "normative or developmental goals and ideals as well as standards and benchmarks for what constitutes evolution" is confronted by the reaction that "this is not only heresy but naïve and stupid." (p.281)
Yet most futurists are all too aware of the limitations of a purely biological and mathematical depiction of evolution. As Loye himself points out, conceptions of "ideal goals" are routine in futures (p.281). In futures there is generally an implicit representation of development and evolution which incorporates conceptions that exist above and beyond the merely physical and biological. Each of the contributors adds an extra dimension or two to the idea of evolution, until the total picture is one that is inclusive not only of the cosmic, chemical/Physical and biological dimensions that currently dominate the neo-Darwinian hegemony, but also includes developments in brain science and psychology, as well as cultural, social, economic, political, technological, educational, moral, spiritual, and consciousness evolution. To this is added the necessity for an action-oriented approach (p.277). The tools that are offered to move us forward are also somewhat heretical: including love (Eisler, Loye, Goerner, Bradley, Bausch and Christakis); partnership (Eisler, Goerner); communication and creativity (Goerner, Montuori, Combs and Richards); human agency (Bradley, Loye); creative action (Eisler, Goerner, Loye); and spiritual and consciousness evolution (Bausch and Christakis, Eisler, Goerner, Loye).
There is not room here to comment upon all 11 articles individually, but Loye's "Darwin, Maslow, and the Fully Human Theory of Evolution" is worth mentioning, as it encapsulates much of the spirit of the book, and will be an eye-opening piece for those unfamiliar with Loye's work. He argues that Darwin has been almost completely misrepresented by the neo-Darwinists. He points out that Darwin only wrote of "survival of the fittest" twice in The Decent of Man, whilste writing of love, moral development, and mind/consciousness hundreds of times in total. Yet the latter are totally ignored in mainstream evolutionary theory, a case of what Loye calls "the mind-binding and blinding power of paradigm." (p.23) Loye goes on to argue that Darwin actually presaged the development of transpersonal, positive and humanistic psychology, and indeed the relevance of moral development and "a spirituality freed of deism and dogma" ( p.23).
This book is aptly named. It contains an exciting array of research at the frontier of evolutionary theory. It may annoy purists of mainstream evolutionary theory for the same reason it excites the more speculative and adventurous amongst us, especially at the times that it moves into the explorative domains of evolutionary theory. Bradley's contribution stands out here, with his piece "Love, power, brain, mind, and agency." His endogenous construction of human evolution, heavily influenced by Pribram's holographic theory of perception, is predicated upon the rather prolix notion of a:

principle of organisation that governs any whole...(which) is non-local, distributed throughout the system and enfolded into its parts. It is this same notion of field, of a distributed order of socioaffective connection mediating the transformation of biological energy into psychosocial order that is the basis for ...(my) account...(p.140).

Yet as Loye points out in the introduction, Bradley's contribution is worth persisting with, despite its broad scope of theory and difficult language. Other contributions in the volume, it should be pointed out, are far more layman-friendly. The contributors generally manage to convey their understandings in easy-to-comprehend form, and considering the cross-disciplinary nature of the volume, this is a key component of its value to its potential audience.
As Loye argues, evolutionary theory "requires a massive updating, integrating and streamlining if it is to meet the needs of the twenty-first century, if not our survival itself over the long run." (p.21) This is no small task, but Loye and his colleagues are doing an invaluable job of getting the ball rolling.

Marcus T. Anthony, author of "Sage of Synchronicity" and "Integrated Intelligence." ... Read more

Product Description
[Grof] attacks both his subject and readers like a commissionsalesman trying to close a much- needed deal. The resulting book isless about the mystical experience than about hubris and betrays theauthor's willingness to steamroller the reader's judgment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

a new approach o the mysteries of life
joining the split between ancient wisdom and our scientific times, a deligthful text about the mysteries of existence, and some interesting answers about our nature like human beings in this loving planet

Great Book
Grof has written a super book that describes the many aspects of spiritual development.He aligns his core thoughts along the thoughts of Ken Wilber.This how ever is not Wilberian book and has many original insights, not mere theory.Grof is a gifted psychiatrist with no axe to grind.He, unlike Wilber who believes his theories hold and explain everyone else's theories, is much more open and unthreatened.He brings different viewpoints to his writing, without claiming to be the end all or have the last word.Get this book, you will not be let down.

getting to know you, getting to know all about you.
this book is a must read for anyone sincerely searching self knowledge. it covers much ground regarding the magnificence of life and existence itself. breathtakingly deep and broad in its scope: personal experience of "God", ways to find "God". the validity of personal mystical experience, ways of getting there, the reason evil exists, the nature of ultimate good, the list goes on and on. Stanislav Grof is a master of the transpersonal and speaks "as one having authority". i can't possibly rate this book highly enough. buy it! its a feast for the mind as well as the heart.

Amazing
The book amazed me up to a certain level. It was very thorough and I found the topics pretty interesting. While searching for some answers about who we are, this book has convinced me that maybe the questions were and are wrong. I recommend everyone interested in parapsychology, reincarnationand issues like that read this book. Especially the chapter about good and evil was full of ideasthat had never crossed my mind. Very fulfilling.

A link between science and ancient mysteries
Grof tries to answer the basic questions about the nature of reality depending on his 40 year research on psychedelics and consciousness. In his attempt he links the pre-industrial cultural flora with modern scientificfindings. An amazing and shcoking book for those who assume to live in amaterial world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great reference
I have a background in the subject, found it to be a great collection.Even for those without previous background, a very useful and expanding book.Enlivening.

Knowledge and Knowing
This is not a psychology book, but rather a text that should be read by anyone who is seriously interested in inquiry.As a teacher of research, it is no surprise to me that students generally dislike research classes.The academic view has become so focused on teaching methods for constructing knowledge that the actual experience of knowing has been quite forgotten.The contributors to this book remind us of the joy and liberation that can be experienced in the process of inquiry.

Talking about the ineffable.
Today psychologists nip closely at the heals of lawyers and doctors as top parasites in the lower intestine of public misfortune.There are nevertheless still a few dedicated people in the field who avoid the institutionalized witch-doctor clap-trap of this psuedo-science and approach human behavior head-on, pun intended, by looking at the raw data that is present immediately to all of us, human consciousness.What is the business of human consciousness?Their answer, "knowing", directly, intuitively and unencumbered by the prejudice of cyclical neuroses or circular rationalization.What are the limits of this consciousness/knowing continuum?There are none to be found anywhere.And, this is more more than a logical conclusion, it is an experiential, experimental conclusion.The editors, particularly Kaisa Puhakka, have no gimmicks of popular self-help to pander, no nine hundred numbers backed by Taro cards.They don't even offer statistics or new psychy buzz words.Yet, they have only language to talk about that which is basically ineffable.And for that, they do a more than servicable job of copernicus-izing psychology starting from the inside out. ... Read more