Using Spirituality in Psychotherapy by Dent, Alexandra;

Short description:

Using Spirituality in Psychotherapy: The Heart Led Approach to Clinical Practice offers a means for therapists to integrate a spiritual perspective into their clinical practice.

Long description:

Using Spirituality in Psychotherapy: The Heart Led Approach to Clinical Practice offers a means for therapists to integrate a spiritual perspective into their clinical practice.

The book provides a valuable alternative to traditional forms of psychotherapy by placing an emphasis on purpose and meaning. Introducing a spiritually informed model, Heart Led Psychotherapy (HLP), the book uses a BioPsychoSocioSpiritual approach to treat psychological distress. Based on the premise that everyone is on an individual life journey, HLP teaches clients to become an observer, identifying the life lessons that they are being asked to understand or experience. The model can be used whether a client has spiritual beliefs or not, enabling them to make new choices that are in keeping with their authentic selves and to live a more fulfilled and peaceful life. This new edition includes updated references and new material on transpersonal psychology, spiritual awakening, working within the quantum field, significance of the heart and heart coherence.

Illustrated by case studies to highlight key points and including a range of practical resource exercises and strategies, this engaging book will have wide appeal to therapists and clinicians from a variety of backgrounds.

'An insightful and valuable contribution to the emerging field of spiritually informed psychotherapy.'

Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist and psychosynthesis psychotherapist

‘This book is authentic, inspiring and beautifully written. The book clearly demonstrates how HLP works in practice and can be combined with other therapies including mindfulness. The author reveals her own spiritual journey with courage and truth and encourages readers to explore their own spirituality, opening an important doorway for further exploration of their own Self.  The book is full of ‘heart’.’

Michelle Sorrell, author of ‘The Wonder of Stillness, Meditation for Children, A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers’

Praise for the first edition

'This is an excellent book introducing a new spiritually informed Heart Led Psychotherapy which integrates solid trauma healing with a spiritual based perspective of soul awareness and life lessons. Alexandra Dent explains the evolving role of the therapist as a guide into the deeper wounds of the heart and soul with a clear step-by-step protocol which is used as part of a BioPsychoSocialSpiritual model to understand life challenges and traumas. In particular, she illustrates how Heart Led Psychotherapy can be used in conjunction with EMDR, enabling multi-dimensional healing. A must read for therapists and clients alike interested in the expanding context of psychotherapy.'

Irene R. Siegel, Ph.D., LCSW; approved EMDR consultant; author of The Sacred Path of the Therapist: Modern Healing, Ancient Wisdom, and Client Transformation

'Heart Led Psychotherapy (HLP) helps clients go beyond the limitations of their ego into the greener pastures of their heart and soul. This model recognises a broader perspective of life in that life is always presenting opportunities and challenges to help us connect more deeply to our authentic core. Life will inevitably present lessons that are there to help us grow. All challenging experiences, relationships, or traumas are opportunities to experience these lessons. Also, choices made from the heart lead to better outcomes than choices made from the head or ego. Sometimes such choices will require a releasing of the old and a leap of faith into the new. Making such a choice will always lead to a more authentic life. Alexandra’s inclusion of the spiritual dimension in the HLP model is probably a much welcome breath of fresh air for any therapist wishing to include the spiritual dimension in their therapeutic work.'

 Steve Nobel, author, spiritual coach and creator of The Soul Matrix healing system

Table of Contents:

Part 1: Introducing a spiritual perspective into psychotherapy  1. Spiritual work with clients  2. BioPsychoSocioSpiritual approach to treating psychological distress  Part 2: Preparation for Heart Led Psychotherapy  3. The power of the ego  4. Mindfulness  5. Learning to live a heart and soulful life  Part 3: Heart Led Psychotherapy  6. The stages of HLP  7. Teaching clients HLP  8. Heart and Soul Led model and soul level work  9. HLP and beyond  Part 4: Case studies  10. Client and supervisee case studies  11. My journey  Part 5: Resources  Resources  References  Index