Psychotherapy and Spirit

At the California Institute of Integral Studies, Brant Cortright is Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Integral Counseling Psychology program. He is the author of Integral Psychology: Yoga, Growth, and Opening the Heart, also published by SUNY Press.

"The field of transpersonal psychotherapy is growing rapidly and needs a competent overview and assessment of perspectives. Psychotherapy and Spirit meets this need. My guess is that it will be widely consulted not only by transpersonal psychotherapists but also by psychotherapists of other orientations who are open to the spiritual dimension of the psychotherapeutic process." —Michael Washburn, author of The Ego and the Dynamic Ground, Transpersonal Psychology in Psychoanalytic Perspective"Cortright brings together the disparate elements of transpersonal psychology in a way that is unique and profound. I know of no other work that so compellingly summarizes the progress and controversies within this groundbreaking discipline." — John E. Nelson, M.D., author of Healing the Split: Integrating Spirit Into Our Understanding of the Mentally Ill"This material is central in the training of transpersonal therapists and in the continuing education of more traditionally oriented psychotherapists. Clearly the author's convictions and experience inspire the book, and it will resonate with other clinicians attempting to do transpersonal therapy." — Arlene Mazak, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology

• Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1: Transpersonal Theory 1. Basic Assumptions Defining Transpersonal PsychologyDefininf Transpersonal Psycholtherapy: Theory and PracticeTheoryBasic AssumptionsPracticeChallenges for Transpersonal Psychotherapy 2. The Psycho-Spiritual Framework The Spiritual DimensionThe Psychological DimensionThe Integrating Transpersonal FrameworkTranspersonal Models of TransformationSome Historical PrejudicesConclusion 3. Consciousness The Methodology of ConsciousnessThe Therapeutic Power of Being With What IsThe Therapist's Consciousness Part 2: Specific Approaches 4. Approaches to Transpersonal Psychotherapy Ken Wilbur's Spectrum ModelCarl Jung's Analytical Psychology and Michael Washburn's Recent InnovationsHameed Ali's Diamond ApproachRoberto Assagioli's PsychosynthesisStanislav Grof's Holotropic ModelExistential Transpersonal PsychotherapyTranspersonal Psychoanalytic PsychotherapyBody-Centered Transpersonal ApprochesConclusion Part 3: Clinical Issues 5. Meditation and Psychotherapy Spirit Paths—Impersonal DivineSoul Paths—Personal DrivePractices Shared by Spirit and Soul PathsConclusions and Discussion 6. Spiritual Emergency A New View of Spiritual ExperienceSpiritual Emergence Versus Spiritual EmergencyForms of Spiritual EmergencyDifferential DiagnosisTreatmentImplications of Spiritual Emergency 7. Altered States of Consciousness Effects of Psychedelic DrugsModels of Working TherapeuticallyEffects of the Feeling EnhancersWorking TherapeuticallyGuidelines for UseLimitations of Altered State WorkImplications 8. Selected Topics in Transpersonal Psychotherapy Birth and DeathSpiritual By-passingAddiction and RecoveryClinical and Ethical Dilemmas Part 4: Conclusion 9. Principles of Transpersonal Practice PrinciplesConclusion References Index