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A theologically and scientifically engaged exploration of modern mental health care The current model of mental health care doesn't see people: it sees sets of symptoms that need fixing. While modern psychiatry has improved many patients'quality of life, it falls short in addressing their relational and spiritual needs. As a theologian and practicing psychiatrist, Warren Kinghorn shares a Christian vision of accompanying those facing mental health challenges. Kinghorn reviews the successes and limitations of modern mental health care before offering an alternative paradigm of healing. Based in the theology of Thomas Aquinas, this model of personhood affirms four truths: We are known and loved by God. We are creatures made of earth who are formed in community. We are wayfarers on a journey. We are called not to control, but to wonder, love, praise, and rest. Drawing on theological wisdom and scientific evidence, Kinghorn reframes our understanding of mental health care from fixing machines to attending fellow wayfarers on the way to the Lord's feast. With gentle guidance and practical suggestions, Wayfaring is an essential resource for pastors and practitioners as well as for Christians who seek mental health care.

In The Spirit of Psychotherapy, Holmes considers whether the principles which underpin religion this can be applied to the largely secular world of psychotherapy. Having a belief system is generally associated with good physical and mental health, and the prime focus of psychotherapy theory and practice is intrapersonal and interpersonal, but these are nested in an often-unexamined supra-personal context, sociological, ecological and spiritual. Structured around a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with people from a wide range of faith backgrounds, Holmes presents the role belief and spirituality play in everyday lives. From these interviews the author identifies core themes such as attachment and hope; frameworks of meaning and rhythm and ritual. Individual chapters are devoted to detailed descriptions of subjects'accounts of these, while drawing parallels and implications for psychotherapy.

This volume addresses the diversification of mental healthcare provision and patients'health-seeking behavior by putting Brazilian Spiritism and its translocal relations at the center of its inquiry.Comparative chapters document and critically assess the affective arrangements of Spiritist spaces in Brazil and Germany and how practices contribute to healing and the diversification of a globally circulating mental health agenda. The book addresses the human experience within Spiritist psychiatric clinics and affiliated Spiritist centers in Brazil, which in migratory contexts also have connections to Germany. Chapters interrogate the spaces where people inside and outside Brazil engage in implementing Spiritist practices in mental healthcare, introducing the Aesthetics of Healing as a conceptual tool to understand interactions between religion and medicine more broadly.Establishing a novel analytical and interdisciplinary perspective on embodied aspects of sensory experience and perception, this compelling volume will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students involved with mental health research, medical anthropology, Spiritualism, and cross-cultural psychology. Practitioners in the fields of transcultural psychiatry and the sociology of religion will also find the volume of use.

In its third edition, The Minister's Guide to Psychological Disorders and Treatments is the definitive guide to everything a minister might need to know about the most common psychological disorders and current evidence-based mental health treatments.Written in straightforward and accessible language, this is the minister's one-stop guide to understanding common mental health problems, helping parishioners who struggle with them, and thinking strategically about whether to refer —and if so, to whom. This updated edition is fully aligned with the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) and the most current evidence-based psychological treatments. This third edition infuses significant attention to culture and diversity, with diverse case examples and fresh content on cultural humility, diagnostic interviewing, assessment, sociocultural contributors to mental health disorders, such as religious community, race, and gender. The third edition also includes coverage of more treatment strategies such as mindfulness, medical cannabis, and light therapy for seasonal depression, as well as revised sections and updated references on major psychological disorders and childhood and relationship problems, including gender dysphoria, binge eating disorder, and intellectual disabilities.Written with deep empathy for the demands of contemporary pastoring, this guide is destined to become an indispensable reference work for busy clergy in all ministry roles and settings.

L'analisi del complesso rapporto fra santità femminile, isteria e altri disturbi mentali fra Medioevo ed età moderna: questo l'importante e affascinante oggetto di cui tratta questo libro. Si indaga se le estatiche, le visionarie e più in generale le mistiche – sante, beate o venerabili –, lungi dall'essere in preda a estasi e visioni, fossero in realtà affette da disturbi della personalità e del comportamento. Attraverso una rigorosa analisi delle fonti, l'autore osserva da vicino il comportamento delle donne mistiche con la lente del moderno codice medico e arriva a concludere che la loro condotta può essere spesso ricollegata a standard e profili patologici più o meno documentabili. Un complesso e articolato lavoro di'intersezione'di fonti agio-biografiche (cronache monastiche, diari, relazioni inedite, resoconti nosografici dei medici coevi alle mistiche censite) e iconografiche (statuette e oggetti devozionali), documenti poco noti ma attendibili e assai convincenti.

A psychiatric diagnosis can be heavy burden—for you or someone you love. These struggles can be life-dominating. But we know this: God is not silent when his people struggle. What does God say? Experienced counselor and best-selling author, Edward T. Welch helps you answer that crucial question by exploring how God's Word speaks in ways that can help you find wisdom, rest, and hope in Jesus, even with a psychiatric diagnosis.What do you do when you recognize yourself or someone you love in descriptions like'OCD,''bipolar disorder,'“borderline personality disorder”? The DSM can give you a detailed description, but what next? We listen to God and to his people.I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis will guide readers in listening to God who has compassion for those who are struggling in these painful ways. Listening to God in the Bible reshapes psychological descriptions and functions as a corrective lens that opens our eyes. As you listen to Scripture and God's people, you will understand the struggles of those with a psychiatric diagnosis better and will be able to receive and offer words of help and hope. Welch includes case studies on panic attacks, PTSD, depression, and narcissism to aid in practical application to your situation.I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis is part of the Ask the Christian Counselor series. This series walks readers through their deepest and most profound questions. Each question is unpacked by an experienced counselor that gives readers the tools to understand their struggle and how the gospel brings hope and healing to the problem they are facing.

A peine ordonné, l'Abbé Christ-Roi est nommé vicaire paroissial à Saint Jules de Makabandilou (Brazzaville-Nord) et doit affronter, sur le terrain, dans leur rigueur exigeante, les questions pratiques du ministère d'exorcisme en profonde crise dans l'Église de son pays. Il s'investit dans le projet de restructuration de l'exorcisme ministériel, pour une contribution pastorale mesurée et forte. L'auteur propose ici des garde fous conséquents à la lumière de la Parole de Dieu et du Magistère de l'Église : pistes de sortie, issues de secours à travers l'apport des sciences psychologiques.

In Anton Boisen: Madness, Mysticism, and the Origins of Clinical Pastoral Education, Sean J. LaBat provides a critical re-assessment of Anton Boisen's life and work. Based in thorough archival research, LaBat argues that Boisen, who suffered from intermittent severe mental illness, was a creative visionary, a mystic who re-imagined pastoral care and envisioned possibilities for the institutionalized other than shame and stigma. He shows how Boisen elucidated new possibilities in patient-centered health care, community care for the mentally ill, and reconciliation and dialogue between religion and science. Boisen explored the borderland of madness and mysticism, illness and inspiration, and practiced an interdisciplinary approach to his craft that is surprisingly modern and more relevant to the practice of medicine and the practice of religion than ever before.

This book brings together the historically separate domains of mental health and spiritual awareness in a holistic framework called InnerView Guidance. Building on strength-based and solution-oriented approaches to therapy, the InnerView model offers a unique psychospiritual approach which can be applied in any of the helping professions.InnerView recognizes the individual's need for internal cohesion between psychological growth and spiritual development. It is a principle-driven paradigm that foregrounds ‘soul work'as a central evolutionary task. The book presents the core concepts and methodology involved in the alignment of ego with soul. Chapters explain the theoretical roots of the model, explore practical applications in therapeutic settings, and introduce InnerView as a rich synergy of psychotherapy and spiritual guidance.Taking an original and cutting-edge approach, this valuable text will be essential reading for scholars and students, as well as practitioners in the fields of psychotherapy, counselling, life coaching, social work, and spiritual care.

We live in an age uniquely attentive to the problem of mental illness. More than half of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in our lifetime. It has been easy, for centuries, to relegate persistent emotional and mental struggles entirely to the realm of a failed personal work ethic ('Just don't worry so much!'), not enough faith ('Just pray harder!'), or, in recent years, a chemical imbalance in our brains ('Just take this pill!'). Yet, for those of us who live with mental illness, none of these suggestions provides the quick relief it promises, and the continued struggle takes its toll on our already burdened hearts and minds.In All Who Are Weary, Emmy Kegler joins the reader on the long walk of reflection, understanding, and compassion, calling followers of Jesus back to ancient practices of lament, vulnerability, honesty, community, and hope. This book is not a map to a cure, nor a perfectly restorative prayer. Written with a wide community in mind--patients, but also parents and partners, coworkers and friends, pastors and therapists, and the whole church--All Who Are Weary points to the embodied grace known in Jesus, trusting in the promise of a lighter load for all.

Christians are hungry for a return to their own tradition to cultivate meditation practices that are both psychologically and spiritually fruitful. In recent decades, mindfulness meditation, which originates from the Buddhist tradition, has been embraced in many settings as a method for addressing a plethora of symptoms. What would it look like to turn instead to the Christian faith for resources to more effectively identify and respond to psychological suffering?Over the last decade, Dr. Joshua Knabb has conducted a variety of empirical studies on Christian meditation, focusing on both building theory and testing specific, replicable practices. In this overview and workbook he presents the foundations of a Christian-sensitive approach to meditation in clinical practice. Filled with practical features for immediate use by Christian clients and their therapists, Christian Meditation in Clinical Practice providesan introduction to the rich resources on meditation from eight major streams of the Christian traditionpractices from the early desert Christians, Ignatius of Loyola, Celtic Christians, the Puritans, contemporary writers, and many othersguidance for targeting transdiagnostic processes—patterns of cognition, affect, behavior, the self, and relationships that may lead to psychological sufferingresearch-based evidence for the benefits of Christian meditationclient-friendly tools for practicing meditation, including step-by-step instructions, worksheets, journaling prompts, and links to tailored audio resourcesUsing the approach of Christian psychology, Knabb's model dually builds on a biblical worldview and integrates the latest research in clinical psychology. As clients engage the variety of meditative exercises in this book, they will move toward healthier responses to difficult experiences and a deeper awareness of, and contentment in, God.Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

This book aims to help readers appreciate the many-faceted relationship between Christianity, one of the world's major faith traditions, and the practice of psychiatry. Chapter authors in this book first consider challenges posed by historical antagonisms, church-based mental health stigma, and controversy over phenomena such as hearing voices. Next, others explore both how Christians often experience conditions such as mood and psychotic disorders, disorders in children and adolescents, moral injury and PTSD, and ways that their faith can serve as a resource in their healing. Twelve Step spirituality, originally informed by Christianity, is the subject of a chapter, as are issues raised for Christians by disability, death and dying. A set of chapters then focuses on the state of integration of Christian beliefs and practices into psychotherapy, treatment delivery, educational programming, clergy/clinician collaboration, and treatment by a non-Christian psychiatrist. Finally, thereare chapters by a mental health professional who has been a patient, a Jewish psychiatrist, a Muslim psychiatrist knowledgeable about Christianity and psychiatry in the Muslim majority world, and a Christian psychiatrist. These chapters provide context, diversity and personal perspectives. Christianity and Psychiatry is a valuable resource for mental health professionals seeking to understand and address the particular challenges that arise when caring for Christian patients.

Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning sold over 10 million copies and was translated into over 30 languages and was deemed by a survey of the Library of Congress one of “the ten most influential books in America”. This volume introduces and presents translations of a number of important but less well-known writings by Viktor Frankl, translated from the original German, in which he forthrightly relates psychology to religious concepts. These cast a strong, new light on the generally received understanding of Frankl's contribution to psychology – “logotherapy” – and its relationship to the soul and universal ethics.

In Romans 7:15, St. Paul expressed frustration with something all of us can relate to, saying, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Despite our best efforts to live our lives as we ought to, we repeatedly fall into the trap of “not understanding what we do,” and constantly perpetrating the same missteps we have previously vowed never to take again. What is the reason of our deeply ingrained fallibility? Christians do what they hate either because they consciously, deliberately and sinfully transgress Jesus'commands, or because they are experiencing unintended and often unconscious symptoms of mental ailments. The interconnectedness of sinful and psychologically disordered behaviors is undeniable. Malignant selfishness, which we recognize as sin, is often linked to narcissistic character features. Repeated belligerent acting out may be rooted in a paranoid mindset. Emotional cruelty may be not freely chosen but tied to antisocial personality traits; sinning against the sixth commandment can be driven by the illness of pedophilia. The reverse is also true: most mentally disordered behaviors involve some form of intentional and sinful violation of Jesus'command. Though the boundary between sin and sickness may appear fuzzy at times, a thorough understanding of their interplay is of utmost importance when faced with matters of freedom of choice, conscience, responsibility and, most of all, pastoral care.This comprehensive handbook on pastoral care successfully integrates the biblical and medical/scientific perspectives on human anthropology, mental illness and sin. It expounds on the signs of all major mental ailments and provides recommendations for their pastoral and medical treatment. Problems from psychoses to mood disorders, suicide to sexual disturbances, anxiety to addictive behaviors, and ailments in between are explained. Readers will find new insights on the ways in which various personality disorders interfere with spiritual functioning. Developmental stages in life are also discussed, together with the spiritual challenges they pose, and the pastoral answers they call for. This work does not shy away from controversial topics, such as post-abortion syndrome, euthanasia, gender ideology, or the psychological aspects of atheism. Soundly faith-based, yet well-grounded in contemporary psychiatric knowledge, this handbook captures a lifetime of learning and healing by practicing psychologist who holds an MD, PhD, and a graduate theology degree. It is an indispensable practical reference for all pastoral workers.

How many people suffer from mental illness?Did you know that one in five people, including Christians, will suffer from a mental illness in any given year? This shocking statistic means that many churches will have families who are affected by and struggling with mental illness.This second entry in a two-volume set about mental illness by Dr. Stephen Saunders will help you respond to these difficult circumstances and directing Christian brothers and sisters to the care and support they need, while also reminding them of their Savior's love.A Christian Guide to Mental Illness, Volume 2 details how core ideas about mental illnesses and their treatments have changed over time. The book also offers guidance to pastors and church workers who wish to provide practical assistance to the people they serve.You will learn how to begin the vitally important conversation on mental illness, prepare for crisis management, recognize the need for professional treatment, assist loved ones, and share with everyone impacted by mental illness the spiritual comfort that only comes from God's Word.As he did in Volume 1, Dr. Saunders demonstrates in this book a thorough understanding of essential Christian teachings. Both church leaders and church members will find assistance and encouragement in this book as they reach out to family and friends affected by mental illness.

Over several years, Christian Suhr followed Muslim patients being treated for jinn possession and psychosis in a Danish mosque and in a psychiatric hospital. Through rich filmic and textual case studies, he shows how the bodies and souls of Muslim patients become a battlefield between the moral demands of Islam and the psychiatric institutions of European nation-states. The book reveals how both psychiatric and Islamic healing work to produce relief from pain, and also entail an ethical transformation of the patient and the cultivation of religious and secular values through the experience of pain. Creatively exploring the analytic possibilities provided by the use of a camera, both text and film show how disruptive ritual techniques are used in healing to destabilise individual perceptions and experiences of agency, which allows patients to submit to the invisible powers of psychotropic medicine or God.

Ganz egal, ob Therapeuten und Therapeutinnen gläubig sind oder selbst ein spirituelles Bedürfnis spüren, sie müssen sich mit entsprechenden Anteilen ihrer Klientinnen und Klienten auseinandersetzen können. Denn hält ein Mensch etwas für real, dann sind auch die Folgen daraus für ihn oder sie real. Im Gespräch plädieren der Religionspsychologe Michael Utsch und der erlebnisorientierte Bewusstseinsforscher Georg Milzner – Psychologen und Therapeuten sind beide – dafür, dass Therapeutinnen und Therapeuten offen sind gegenüber spirituellen Weltkonstruktionen. Sie dringen aber auch darauf zu klären, was aus spirituellen Konstruktionen folgt, denn sie können bei der Bewältigung von Krisen und Störungen sowohl nachteilig als auch unterstützend wirken. Vielen Klientinnen und Klienten hilft die Annahme, dass ihre Lebensgeschichte oder auch ihr Leiden sowie Erleiden einen übergeordneten Sinn haben könnten, beim Verkraften persönlicher Krisen und Schicksalsschläge. Andere scheuen möglicherweise die eigene Alltagsverantwortung mit Verweis auf einen Gott, der schon alles fügt, so kann eine spirituelle Weltsicht einer Problemlösung im Wege stehen. Für einen guten Weg der Patientinnen und Patienten sollten das Positive wie das Negative religiöser Weltkonstruktionen in der Therapie angesprochen werden.

In this book, Damian Janus examines the connections between psychopathological phenomena and religion. Janus contends that there are certain factors—fear of death, desire for power and longevity, and need for predictability of life and longing for care—which reside within the framework of religion and mental disorders. These factors shapethe psychopathological image and contribute to the genesis of religiosity. He explores this contention in his analysis of various mental disorders (neuroses, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, psychoses, eating disorders) and symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, self-destructive behaviors), as well as more common psychological phenomena.This book is recommended for scholars of psychology, religion, and philosophy as well as psychotherapists.

Psychiatry and Religion: Context, Consensus and Controversies works to eradicate the distinction between spiritual and psychological welfare and promote greater understanding of the relationship between the two. This book brings together chapters from fifteen mental health practitioners and pastoral workers to explore what their different philosophies have to offer the individuals in their care. As well as all the major world religions, the text also provides detailed information about newer religions and the significance of their belief systems for mental health management. The book examines the positive and negative effects that strict moral codes and religious rituals can produce and shows how awareness of these effects is crucial to the treatment of these patients.This classic edition of Psychiatry and Religion, with a new introduction from Dinesh Bhugra, will continue to provide an important resource to practicing and training psychiatrists.

Psychiatry and religion/spirituality (R/S) share an interest in human flourishing, a concern with beliefs and values, and an appreciation for community. Yet historical tensions between science and religion continue to impede dialogue, leaving clinicians uncertain about how to approach ethical questions arising between them. When are religious practices such as scrupulosity disordered? What distinguishes healthy from unhealthy religion? How should a therapist approach a patient's existential, moral or spiritual distress? What should clinicians do with patients'R/S convictions about faith healing, same-sex relationships, or obligations to others? Discussions of psychiatric ethics have traditionally emphasized widely accepted principles, generally admired virtues, and cultural competence. Relatively little attention has been devoted to the ways that R/S inform the values of patients and their clinicians, shape preferred virtues, and interact with culture. Ethical Considerations at the Intersection of Psychiatry and Religion aims to give mental health professionals a conceptual framework for understanding the role of R/S in ethical decision-making and serve as practical guidance for approaching challenging cases. Part I addresses general considerations, including the basis of therapeutic values in a pluralistic context, the nature of theological and psychiatric ethics, spiritual issues arising in diagnosis and treatment, unhealthy and harmful uses of religion, and practical implications of personal spirituality. Part II examines how these considerations apply in specific contexts: inpatient and outpatient, consultation-liaison, child and adolescent, geriatric, disability, forensic, community, international, addiction and disaster and emergency psychiatry, as well as in the work of religious professionals, ethics committees, psychiatric education, and research. Thick descriptions of case examples analyzed using the framework of Jonson and Winslow show the clinical relevance of understanding the contributions of religion and spirituality to patient preferences, quality of life, decision making, and effective treatment.

This highly integrative book was written for students, professionals in aging, religious leaders, and older adults themselves. Readers will gain the knowledge and skills they need to assess, engage, and address the spiritual and religious needs of older persons. Taking a fresh approach that breaks new ground in the field, the author discusses eight major world religions and covers values and ethics, theories, interventions, health and caregiving, depression and anxiety, dementia, and the end of life. Meditations and exercises throughout the book allow readers to expand and explore their personal understanding of spirituality. Referencing the latest research, the book includes assessments and skill-based tools designed to help practitioners enhance the mental health of older people.

While the term midrash--from the Hebrew darash, searched or interpreted--can refer to both legal and extralegal scriptural exegesis, it most commonly refers to symbolic legends, stories, and parables used to make moral or ethical concepts accessible to the layman. As such, midrash encompasses an open-ended method of exposition that often allows for the coexistence of seemingly contradictory interpretations of holy writ in a kind of dialogue with each other. In Rewriting the Self, Mordechai Rotenberg illustrates how'midrashic'dialogue between a person's past and present may assist in the reorganization of ostensibly contrasting conditions or positions, so that by reinterpreting a failing past according to future aspirations, cognitive discord may be reduced and one may begin to rehabilitate and enhance one's life.Rotenberg argues that the foundations of what he calls a'dialogic'psychology of progress, as well as a pluralistic, free choice approach to psychotherapy, may be identified in Judaism's midrashic'metacode.'From a practical, therapeutic perspective, a teacher or therapist would no longer be an elite interpreter of a student or client's past, authorized to give the only authentic analysis of that person's problems. Rather, he would be able to offer a variety of options, both rational and emotional. In Rewriting the Self, Rotenberg demonstrates his theory with several case studies of'rewriting'oneself from both the Midrash and Talmud. He contrasts this method with other psychotherapies. This volume is the third in a trilogy (the previous two, Damnation and Deviance and Hasidic Psychology, are also published by Transaction) that seeks to present a'dialogistic'psychology as an alternative framework to the perspective that predominates in Western social sciences. It is an original work that will be welcomed by psychotherapists, social scientists, and students of theology.

OCD, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder... these are no longer just technical terms and medical diagnoses, they are part of our common vocabulary and culture. As Christians, we shouldn't isolate ourselves from this discussion or dismiss these important issues. But we also should be careful not to accept the entire secular psychiatric diagnostic and treatment enterprise without question. What we need is a balanced, biblically (and scientifically) informed approach that neither blindly accepts nor harshly dismisses psychiatric labels, diagnoses, and medicines that are prescribed to help those who are suffering. As both a Biblical counselor and medical doctor, Michael R. Emlet, MD, gives readers a Christ-centered approach to psychiatry and guides both lay and professional helpers through the thicket of mental health labels and treatments with a biblical lens. In a clear and thoughtful way that puts the person experiencing mental health issues at the forefront, Emlet uses Scripture to show how the Bible engages in the discussion of psychiatric labels and the medications that are often recommended based on those labels. The first book in the'Helping the Helper'series, Descriptions and Prescriptions will give readers a biblical, gospel-formed perspective to help them understand and minister to those struggling with mental health issues.

The Calvinist view that man is predestined to be among the elect or the damned has profoundly influenced not only our views of criminals and deviants, but also the theoretical basis of correctional methods and psychotherapeutic techniques. In this provocative and original volume, Mordechai Rotenberg examines the impact of Protestant doctrine on Western theories of deviance. He explores the inherent contradiction between Protestant ethics, with its view of human nature as predestinated, and the'people-changing'sciences.Rotenberg presents empirical studies that show how people's tendency to label themselves and others as deviant can be predicted on the basis of their exposure to Western socialization. He contrasts alienating individuals, the result of competitiveness and exaggerated independence fostered by socialization in Protestant societies, to the reciprocal individualism of Hassidic, Japanese, and other non-Western cultures. Examining the Protestant'bias'of Western behavioral sciences, Rotenberg examines modern theories of deviance and proposes alternative models. He compares traditional past-oriented insight therapy, grounded in Calvinist methods of introspection, self-torment, and conversion, with Hassidic notions of redemption and salvation.'Rotenberg provides important historical and sociological insights into the intellectual origins of modern theories of deviance. His argument that Western behavioral science retains a Calvinist view of humanity will force most scholars to examine anew the assumptions and foundations of their own theories.'--Gerald N. Grob, Rutgers University'A highly original work, which should be of great interest to anyone concerned with relevant behavior. It shows how macro-definitions in a society tend to lead people to think about themselves and their ills in certain ways--and thus to deviate in certain ways.'--Richard A. Cloward, co-author, Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare

Since more than a century, anthropologists and psychiatrists engage in conversations concerning relationships between embodied wellbeing and religion. Taking account of shifting meanings of `religion'in global modernities, the contributions reveal how historically and culturally embedded local encounters between psychiatry, religious experience and ritual healing contribute to an increasing diversification of `mental health'. The multitude of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches brought to the field in the global north and the global south introduce novel insights into current debates between clinical practitioners, ethnographic fieldworkers and historians of psychiatry.

How do Christians deal with mental illness?Mental illness is a major problem for many people in society— male or female, young or old, religious or atheist.Christians are certainly no exception; yet, unfortunately, the same stigma surrounding mental illness in society is present in Christian circles too. The first in a two-volume set from author Dr. Stephen Saunders, this book takes an in-depth look at mental illness while also offering grace and encouragement from God's Word. Saunders describes many common mental afflictions in great detail, including their symptoms, risk factors, and the effects they can have on loved ones. Saunders then presents you with key biblical principles— sin and grace, law and gospel, and others— to show that God is in control and has not deserted those who suffer.By reading this book, you'll be better prepared to help your loved ones endure whatever mental trials they might be facing.

A tour de force, voice-driven debut that examines how one woman finally found the middle ground between Heaven and Hell--an NPR Best Book of the Year.As a young girl, Maggie Rowe took the idea of salvation very seriously. Growing up in a moderately religious household, her fear of eternal damnation turned into a childhood terror that drove her to become an outrageously dedicated Born-again Christian —regularly slinging Bible verses in cutthroat scripture memorization competitions and assaulting strangers at shopping malls with the “good news” that they were going to hell.Finally, at nineteen, crippled by her fear, she checked herself in to an Evangelical psychiatric facility. And that is where her journey really began. Surrounded by a ragtag cast of characters, including a former biker meth-head struggling with anger management issues, a set of identical twins tormented by erotic fantasies, a World War II veteran and artist of denial who insists that he's only “locked up for a tune-up,” and a warm and upbeat chronic depressive who becomes the author's closest ally, Maggie launches a campaign to, in the words of Martin Luther,'Sin bravely in order to know the forgiveness of God.'

Modern Psychopathologies is addressed to students and mental health professionals who want to sort through contemporary secular understandings of psychopathology in relation to a Christian worldview.Written by well-known and respected scholars, this book provides an introduction to a set of disorders along with overviews of current research on etiology, treatment and prevention. Prior chapters explore the classification of disorders in historic pastoral care and contemporary mental health care. The authors explain the biological and sociocultural foundations of mental illness, and reflect on the relation between psychopathology and the Christian understanding of sin. Modern Psychopathologies is a unique and valuable resource for Christians studying psychology and counseling or providing counseling services, pastoral care, Christian healing ministries or spiritual direction.The revised second edition is fully updated according to DSM-5 and ICD-10. The authors have expanded the analysis to include problems associated with trauma, gender, addiction and more.Though fully capable of standing on its own, the book is a useful companion volume to Modern Psychotherapies by Stanton L. Jones and Richard E. Butman.Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

Schizophrenia is often considered one of the most destructive forms of mental illness. Elahe Hessamfar's personal experience with her daughter's illness has led her to ask some pressing and significant questions about the cause and nature of schizophrenia and the Church's role in its treatment. With a candid and revealing look at the history of mental illness, In the Fellowship of His Suffering describes schizophrenia as a variation of human expression. Hessamfar uses a deeply theological rather than pathological approach to interpret the schizophrenic experience and the effect it has on both the patients and their families. Effectively drawing on the Bible as a source of knowledge for understanding mental illness, she offers a reflective yet innovative view of whether the Church could or should intervene in such encounters and what such an intervention might look like. Hessamfar's comprehensive work will provoke powerful responses from anyone interested in the prominent social issue of mental illness. Her portrayal of the raging debate between treating'insanity'either pastorally or medically will enthral readers, be they Christians, medical students or those in the field of psychiatry and social sciences.

There is a huge need for churches to be more inclusive – some might be more inclusive in some areas than others (both in attitude and resources), but on the whole this is a massive failing of churches. Most church leaders recognise this failing but lack the resources and understanding to effect meaningful change. The Inclusive Church Resources aim to educate, to reflect theologically and to provide practical advice and guidance. Each book contains first-hand personal experiences of people from the marginalised group, a theological reflections by Jean Vanier and John Swinton and a resource section containing addresses, websites and practical advice on improving your church's inclusivity.

'Schizophrenia'is by many accounts the most devastating illness of our time. In this book, Elahe Hessamfar uses her personal encounter with her daughter's illness to bring the reader to experience the pain and anguish of those who suffer so intensely. She candidly discusses the gripping and dark realities her family has faced in the midst of this journey and exposes that the ride isn't easy, but it can be fruitful and purposeful, and it can be a journey of joy and peace if understood from the intended perspective. This is a fascinating and deeply theological portrayal of madness under the mighty hand of God. It challenges and awakens the reader to a heightened awareness about self, community, pain, brokenness, sin, grace, and redemption. This is the first truly biblically based, theological interpretation of madness in conversation with psychiatry and social sciences. Hessamfar passionately discusses the shortcomings of our current medical model of mental illness and directs the reader's attention to the mistreatment of those the medical community labels with'schizophrenia.'She argues that not only is'schizophrenia'not pathological but it touches on the most fundamental fragilities of the human soul, and hence, it is a critical pastoral issue. Hessamfar offers tangible, inspiring, and life-changing solutions for those dealing with this most elusive and mysterious phenomenon--solutions that would bring hope and healing to the hopeless people chained in the abyss of madness.

Learn to treat a variety of diagnostic disorders through various psychospiritual treatment models!Increasing numbers of people are moving beyond psychological therapy to seek alternative spiritual perspectives to medical and mental health care such as yoga and meditation. The Psychospiritual Clinician's Handbook: Alternative Methods for Understanding and Treating Mental Disorders provides the latest theoretical perspectives and practical applications by recognized experts in positive and integrative psychotherapy. Leading clinicians examine and re-examine their therapeutic worldviews and attitudes to focus on the right problems to solve—for the whole person.This essential Handbook is a window on the quiet revolution now sweeping the field of psychology, that of locating the whole human being in the center of the therapeutic process. The Psychospiritual Clinician's Handbook: Alternative Methods for Understanding and Treating Mental Disorders helps you effectively treat the whole person by providing a practical introduction to some of the worldviews and most effective practices like yoga, meditation, and humanological therapy used by psychospiritually oriented therapists. Helpful illustrations of body positions used in yoga and meditation plus photographs, tables, figures, and detailed case studies illustrate the process.The Psychospiritual Clinician's Handbook: Alternative Methods for Understanding and Treating Mental Disorders will show you: the importance of a therapist's worldview for effective therapeutic outcome new perspectives on alternative treatments for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, and sexual dysfunction how yoga and mindfulness meditation can be used in psychotherapy the use and integration of meditation therapies in emergency situations the therapeutic integration of other alternative treatments, such as Kundalini yoga each contributor's case studies as illustration of effective treatment The Psychospiritual Clinician's Handbook: Alternative Methods for Understanding and Treating Mental Disorders is an invaluable resource for those interested in treating patients with a therapeutic process that is effective, adaptable, and wholly transformational.

The Minister's Guide to Psychological Disorders and Treatments, 2nd ed, is a thorough yet succinct guide to everything a minister might need to know about the most common psychological disorders and the most useful mental-health treatments. Written in straightforward and accessible language, this is the minister's one-stop guide to understanding common mental health problems, helping parishioners who struggle with them, and thinking strategically about whether to refer—and if so, to whom. This thoroughly updated edition is fully aligned with the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) and the latest evidence regarding evidence-based psychological treatments. The second edition also contains a new chapter on ministerial triage as well as additions to the DSM-V such as autism spectrum disorder and somatic symptom disorders. Written with deep empathy for the demands of contemporary pastoring, this guide is destined to become an indispensable reference work for busy clergy in all ministry roles and settings.

How close is spirituality to psychosis?Covering the interrelation of psychosis and spirituality from a number of angles, Insanity and Divinity will generate dialogue and discussion, aid critical reflection and stimulate creative approaches to clinical work for those interested in the connections between religious studies, psychoanalysis, anthropology and hagiography.Bringing together an international range of contributors and covering many different types of religious experience, this book presents its theme in three parts:Psychoanalysis, belief and mysticism Anthropology, history and hagiography Psychology, psychosis and religious experience.Each section includes discussion of the hinterland between madness and religious experience from the perspective of a number of religions, autobiographical accounts of those who have experienced a psychosis in which spirituality played a key part and a comprehensive review of the position of psychology research into the meaning and function of spirituality in relation to the psychoses.Insightful, enlightening and wide-ranging, Insanity and Divinity is ideal for clinicians, academics and chaplains working in clinical settings.

In this sensational and highly original book Dr Kenneth McAll tells how through his medical and religious experiences he has discovered a remarkable new method of healing. He believes that many supposedly'incurable'patients are the victims of ancestral control. He therefore seeks to liberate them from this control. By drawing up a family tree he can identify the ancestor who is causing his patient harm. He then cuts the bond between the ancestor and the patient by celebrating, with a clergyman, a service of Holy Communion in which he delivers the tormented ancestor to God. His book could revolutionize the spiritual, medical and psychiatric approach to many forms of mental and physical sickness. It will undoubtedly create great controversy among the medical and clerical professions. Russ Parker, director of the Christian Acorn Healing Foundation,'is honoured'to be asked to write a new foreword for the SPCK Classics edition

From the New York Times–bestselling author: “Each chapter... offers a window on a different intersection of psychiatry and spirituality” (New Age). In Saints and Madmen, bestselling author Russell Shorto explains how modern science is beginning to reconcile centuries of religious experiences with current psychiatric theories. Psychotic patients sometimes believe they're developing mystical powers, speaking to animals or conversing with God during their episodes. As one patient said, psychosis can be life's greatest joy, and also its worst hell. Traditional psychiatry has approached the existence of these occurrences as a treatable medical problem, a case of unbalanced chemicals in the brain. But could it be more? In Saints and Madmen, Shorto writes about the scientists who reject the Freudian view of religious experience as narrow-minded, and shows us how their findings could change how we understand our own minds and spirits.

Der Anglikaner Kenneth McAll gilt als Begründer der Praxis der «Heilung des Familienstammbaums». Diese geht über Heilungs- und Befreiungsgebet, wie es im Gebetsleben und in der Liturgie der katholischen Kirche einen festen Platz hat, weit hinaus. Schon bald zeigten sich besonders charismatisch orientierte Gruppen von der Wichtigkeit des Ansatzes von McAll überzeugt. Da auch verschiedentlich Bedenken laut wurden, scheint die Aufgabe dringlich, der Frage nachzugehen, ob die Konzeption McAlls in allen Punkten mit der katholischen Lehre und Praxis kompatibel ist. So werden in dieser Untersuchung neben einer Darstellung von McAlls Heilungsprogramm die Vereinbarkeit mit der katholischen Lehre betreffend Sünde und Erlösung, Sakramente und Eschatologie ausgelotet. Dabei zeigen sich in einigen Punkten Übereinstimmung bzw. Anschlussfähigkeit, aber auch Diskrepanz und Unvereinbarkeit.

The new edition of this successful text builds on the very latest research to present an original and unique exploration of the psychology of both spirituality and psychosis. The editor brings together fascinating perspectives from a broad range of distinguished contributors. This new edition covers the most recent body of research, both qualitative and quantitative, in its exploration of the interface between psychosis and spirituality, and investigation into anomalous experiences Ten new chapters added and the remaining text completely updated New to this edition is an expanded clinical section, relevant to clinicians working with psychosis Offers a fundamental rethink of the concept of psychosis, and proposes new insights into spirituality Includes feature chapters from a distinguished list of contributors across a broad range of disciplines, including Peter Fenwick, Peter Chadwick, David Kingdon, Gordon Claridge, Neil Douglas Klotz and David Lukoff

Religion (and spirituality) is very much alive and shapes the cultural values and aspirations of psychiatrist and patient alike, as does the choice of not identifying with a particular faith. Patients bring their beliefs and convictions into the doctor-patient relationship. The challenge for mental health professionals, whatever their own world view, is to develop and refine their vocabularies such that they truly understand what is communicated to them by their patients. Religion and Psychiatry provides psychiatrists with a framework for this understanding and highlights the importance of religion and spirituality in mental well-being. This book aims to inform and explain, as well as to be thought provoking and even controversial. Patiently and thoroughly, the authors consider why and how, when and where religion (and spirituality) are at stake in the life of psychiatric patients. The interface between psychiatry and religion is explored at different levels, varying from daily clinical practice to conceptual fieldwork. The book covers phenomenology, epidemiology, research data, explanatory models and theories. It also reviews the development of DSM V and its awareness of the importance of religion and spirituality in mental health. What can religious traditions learn from each other to assist the patient? Religion and Psychiatry discusses this, as well as the neurological basis of religious experiences. It describes training programmes that successfully incorporate aspects of religion and demonstrates how different religious and spiritual traditions can be brought together to improve psychiatric training and daily practice. Describes the relationship of the main world religions with psychiatry Considers training, policy and service delivery Provides powerful support for more effective partnerships between psychiatry and religion in day to day clinical care This is the first time that so many psychiatrists, psychologists and theologians from all parts of the world and from so many different religious and spiritual backgrounds have worked together to produce a book like this one. In that sense, it truly is a World Psychiatric Association publication. Religion and Psychiatry is recommended reading for residents in psychiatry, postgraduates in theology, psychology and psychology of religion, researchers in psychiatric epidemiology and trans-cultural psychiatry, as well as professionals in theology, psychiatry and psychology of religion

This book is for mental health practitioners who want to enhance their clients'psychological well-being using therapeutic tools drawn from spiritual and religious thought. What can a nonreligious therapist do when a client directly requests help with a problem involving spiritual matters? How can a therapist who is engaged in a religious tradition frame strategies such as discerning vocation, participating in spiritual or religious rituals, and forgiving in ways that are acceptable to secular clients? Thomas Plante answers these questions and more by presenting 13 tools to improve psychological and spiritual health that can be integrated into secular or religious-oriented practice. Spiritual Practices in Psychotherapy first reviews history, philosophy, and research behind and evidence for integrating tools such as meditation, learning from spiritual models, and becoming part of something larger than oneself into therapy practice. Dr. Plante makes a case for integrating spiritual and religious tools in therapy as part of ethical practice, and as a way to add value to services such as assessment, counseling, and consultation with other professionals. A rich and diverse collection of case illustrations shows how to conduct psychotherapy using these tools, and walks readers through real-world examples of how to consult with clergy. Finally, the book offers an agenda for continued research and education and a variety of resources for further study in this area.

Although medicine is practised in a secular setting, religious and spiritual issues have an impact on patient perspectives regarding their health and the management of any disorders that may afflict them. This is especially true in psychiatry, as feelings of spirituality and religiousness are very prevalent among the mentally ill. Clinicians are rarely aware of the importance of religion and understand little of its value as a mediating force for coping with mental illness. This book addresses various issues concerning mental illness in psychiatry: the relation of religious issues to mental health; the tension between a theoretical approach to problems and psychiatric approaches; the importance of addressing these varying approaches in patient care and how to do so; and differing ways to approach Christian, Muslim and Buddhist patients.

Is faith delusion? Is religion bad for your health? How, in a scientifically and technologically advanced age, can people still believe in God/spirit/'other'? Clearly not all believers are primitive and ill-educated; an alternative explanation is that they must be mad, or at least severely neurotic (as suggested by Freud). This book starts by looking at, and giving reasons for, the connection and the division between Christian faith and psychiatry. It asks whether science challenges Christians involved with psychiatry, as patients or professionals, and whether the spiritual needs of patients are recognised. The author examines the scope and use of the neuro-sciences and considers cause and effect, natural selection and determinism. He explores the overlap (and the difference) between psychiatric symptoms and religious belief, the possible association between demon possession and mental illness, and the idea that some people are intrinsically religious and some are not. The variations of personality are examined, with their implications for belief. Posited as a statement, that faith is delusion is always hostile, but outcome studies (reviewed here) show that in general religious belief and practice convey good mental health. Religious faith and mental illness are different, and their concepts come from different world-views. A consideration of them in relation to each other is long overdue.The author is a former Professor of Psychiatry and President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and has also been Chairman of their Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group, so is exceptionally well qualified to address the subject. Although the book is technically proficient, it is aimed at the general reader and is illustrated with stories, brief case histories and anecdotes.

A psychiatrist explores how the Christian faith can play an important part in bringing relief to OCD sufferers.

In einer umfassenden interdisziplinären Darstellung des Themas »Religion in der Psychiatrie« erörtert der Autor die pathologischen und gesunden Erscheinungsformen von Religion und Religiosität und die historische und aktuelle Position der Psychiatrie.Die ablehnende und kritische Einstellung der Psychiatrie gegenüber der Religion erklärt sich zum einen geschichtlich. Zum anderen tritt Religion in der Psychiatrie typischerweise in krankmachender Form auf. Das Anliegen des Autors ist ein notwendiges Umdenken: Religion sollte vor dem Hintergrund einer Werte relativierenden Epoche und vor den spezifischen Bedingungen der säkularisierten und doch konfessionsgeprägten deutschen Gesellschaft auch als Ressource und Resilienzfaktor in Zeiten individueller Krisen betrachtet werden. Das Buch bietet den theoretischen Hintergrund zu einer differenzierten Auseinandersetzung mit dem Gegenstand und stellt Instrumente für die praxisnahe Anwendung zur Verfügung.