Full Description
Increasing numbers of professionals in the fields of psychology and therapy are seeking to incorporate elements of spirituality into their therapeutic oeuvre, addressing not only mental and emotional issues, but also the soul.
This book discloses how indigenous traditions can be adapted to offer practitioners a highly effective repertoire of insights, psycho-spiritual approaches and therapeutic tools. The underlying concepts and world-views of indigenous and contemporary shamanism are explained and tied in with current developments in psychology and science. After clarifying altered states of perception, concepts of integrative wholeness of mind, body, soul and spirit and transformative shamanic 'healing' approaches, the book goes on to outline concrete contemporary tools and techniques that can be applied directly to work with clients. It presents research, examples and case studies throughout.
This will be enlightening and compelling reading for psychologists, therapists, counsellors and coaches looking for profound insights and innovative methods of practice that cater for the whole human psyche, reaching beyond contemporary Western mind and body approaches.
Contents
Introduction: The Bigger Picture. Part I. Spirituality Matters. 1. Spirituality and Psychology. Part II. The World of Shamanism. 2. Shamanism: The Continuum of Humanities Spiritual Quest. 3. The Heart of the Matter: Altered States of Consciousness and Perception. 4. Strange Worlds: The Shaman's Spirit Realms and the Quantum Realm. 5. The Shaman as Therapist and Healer: Towards Integration and Wholeness. 6. The Shamans Working Realms: Maps of Interconnected Human Reality. Part III. Practical Applications: Incorporating Elements of Shamanism into Therapeutic Work. 7. A Sense of the Sacred: Clients, Space and Objects. 8. Giving it Form: Embodying and Bridging Intent into Matter. 9. A Place of Power and Sanctuary for the Client. 10. The Shamanic Journey as a Therapeutic Tool. 11. Soul Loss and Soul Retrieval. 12. Widening our Circle: Connecting with Ancestors and Descendents. 13. Myths, Stories and Teaching Tales. 14. Therapeutic Work with Ritual and Ceremony. 15. The Medicine Wheel as a Psycho-spiritual and Therapeutic Tool. 16. Travelling Home: Re-connecting with Nature. 17. The Cycle of Life: When the Body Dies. Part 4. Back to the Bigger Picture. 18. About Individual and Collective Purpose in Today's World.
