Spiritual Resources in Family Therapy, Second Edition / Edition 2

Journal of Family Therapy

From the Publisher

"Distinguished practitioner Froma Walsh and her contributing authors affirm the fundamental place of spirituality in individual, couple, and family therapy. Topics include therapeutic applications related to grieving, forgiveness, and meditation, as well as approaches to working with special populations, such as immigrants and refugees. The book assists therapists to recognize, assess, and appreciate their own and their clients’ spirituality so that spirituality can become a constructive aspect of therapy. Theoretically grounded yet practical, this is essential reading for students and established professionals alike."--Martin W. Rovers, PhD, Faculty of Human Sciences, St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada

"This volume documents a remarkable transformation in family therapists’ regard for spirituality. It urges clinicians to follow streams of spiritual experience through family belief systems, rituals, and communities, in order to appreciate the rich therapeutic possibilities that spirituality provides. Capturing the diversity of contemporary families, the contributors provide an array of approaches for helping people cope assertively with losses, injustices, and adversities in their lives."--James L. Griffith, MD, Department of Psychiatry, The George Washington University Medical Center

"Featuring brand-new and updated material, this superb revision of Walsh’s groundbreaking text gives voice to the powerful and often ignored spiritual dimension of human experience. The volume offers a rich, multilayered exploration of spirituality and relational well-being. Highly accessible and beautifully written, it is filled with case examples, author reflections, and information that therapists need to develop greater spiritual self-awareness and professional effectiveness. A 'must read' for social workers and psychotherapists, and for graduate students in mental health, family studies, and pastoral counseling."--Marsha Pravder Mirkin, PhD, Department of Psychology, Lasell College; Women’s Studies Research Center, Brandeis University

"A vital contribution to the growing literature on spirituality and psychotherapy. This excellent volume reminds us that spirituality is, at its heart, all about relationships. The contributors skillfully demonstrate how practitioners from every discipline can weave a sensitivity to the spiritual dimension into their work with families from diverse religious backgrounds who are facing life’s most profound problems. Through moving personal accounts, the volume also invites therapists to examine the place of spirituality in their own lives. I highly recommend this updated second edition."--Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University

Family Journal

Journal of Family Therapy

Throughout twenty engaging chapters, the authors explore a wide range of spiritual and religious viewpoints towards aspects of family life, including loss, resilience, and the idea of healing. Following this they consider implications for therapeutic practice, with many contributors sharing extensive and highly practical aspects of their individual approaches....Throughout the book, Walsh and her contributors share their thoughts and practices in a way that suggests real depth in exploring spiritual resources, stemming from many years of reflecting on their practice and developing creative but well-thought-out therapeutic positions and approaches....Walsh's language and approach to spirituality is creative and at times poetic, harnessing the fleeting essence of spirituality with imagination. Her courage to express her compassionate and open attitude to life and human behavior is what makes this book enriching and engaging well beyond its educative potential. This volume offers those readers with a limited knowledge of religious diversity a good grounding in attitudes towards life's challenges and resilience from a vast amount of different faith perspectives.

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