Zen and Psychotherapy: Integrating Traditional and Nontraditional Approaches

By Christopher J. Mruk, Joan Hartzell, Joan Hartzell RN MA

Book Overview

With over 80 years of combined experience in the mental health field, Mruk and Hartzell explore the role of spirituality and religion in treatment and provide a sound clinical and academic rationale for integrating principles of Zen and traditional psychotherapy. They offer help to clinicians, supervisors, and educators in understanding specific Zen principles that can hold significant therapeutic value, and how they are compatible with traditional, empirically oriented, scientifically based education and training, regardless of one's particular academic or disciplinary orientation.

The authors, one a clinical educator and social scientist, the other a nurse psychotherapist and practicing Buddhist, present a fascinating dialogue on the "science" and the "art" sides of the art-science debate. This allows their different points of view to come together in both academic and personal communication, offering practical suggestions for achieving a balance between these two views on the helping and healing process.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826120350
• ISBN13: 9780826120359
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

excellent blending of two traditions

For counselors, therapists, healers and those in the healping professions, this is a real gem. The interaction between the authors, one from a clinical background and one from a spiritual, illuminates the material as a respectful dialoque, with the questions asked of each other, we would ask ourselves. Unique exploration of the material and very helpful.