Introduction to Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Haworth Practical Practice in Mental Health) (Paperback)

~ Anne L. Strozier (Editor), Joyce E. Carpenter (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A treasury of non-verbal psycho-spiritual technologies for health and healing. Beautifully accessible to all who are interested in incorporating complementary and alternative therapies, this book is a vital resource for medical and mental health centers. . . . Will engender and re-ignite and the integrative impulse, availing the reader to a more complete range of therapeutic modalities including healing touch, expressive arts, mindfulness and spiritual support." -- Willow Pearson

"Will educate mental health professionals about a broad range of psychological therapeutics that are often overlooked. By showing how body, sense and touch augment traditional verbal interventions, the authors of this book reveal the contours of a truly integrative approach to treatment." -- Zindel V. Segal

About the Author

Anne L. Strozier, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of South Florida. Dr. Strozier is also the Director of the Florida Kinship Center and a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida. She has used complementary and alternative apprpoaches in her therapy practice for many years, has conducted research on the use of touch in psychotherapy, and has taught graduate social work classes and led professional workshops about complementary and alternative therapies.

Joyce E. Carpenter, MSW, grew up in Wallsend, an industrial town, in the North East of England. During her work as an elementary school teacher working with children in both urban and rural-based deprived neighborhoods, she recognized that many students failed to learn when taught by traditional methods. She began to use a multidisciplinary approach (incorporating poetry, music, drama, dance, art, and literature) to engage her students in their work. In 1992, she joined the faculty of the School of Social Work at the University of South Florida where she now works as an advisor and recruiter. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: The Haworth Press Inc; 1 edition (October 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789022060
• ISBN-13: 978-0789022066
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,811,835 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A good overview of for the professional clinician, March 26, 2009

By	Katherine Kirk "Marriage & Family Therapist" (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Introduction to Alternative and Complimentary Therapies is a compilation of overviews of modalities by various authors. The authors are considered to have expertise in their respective field. For example, the chapter on art therapy is written by Dr. Laura Cherry, who is a board certified Art Therapist and an associate professor of art at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. Dr. Cherry has conducted art therapy programs for special needs children in the Caribbean. Dr. Trudy Duffy, PhD, the author of the chapter on psychodrama is a certified practitioner and trainer of psychodrama in addition to conducting academic research at Boston University and publishing professional writings on psychodrama.

Each chapter in the book gives an overview of selected alternative and complimentary therapies. The nine chapters or areas of focus are mindfulness, spirituality, poetry therapy, art therapy, psychodrama; dance / movement therapy, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and touch therapies. Each chapter includes an introduction to the modality as well as empirically based research and case examples. The editors state: "This book is intended to pique your interest, light your curiosity, and perhaps inspire you to learn more about one or two of these approaches in depth."

My professional interest in reviewing this book comes out of a love for the complimentary therapies, particularly the arts as well as mindfulness / transpersonal therapy. There are certainly ways to incorporate bits and pieces of each complimentary therapy into one's practices. However, after reading each chapter, I gained a deeper appreciation for each discipline and a greater respect for the benefit of selecting one of these fields and receiving in depth training. Must I become a proficient artist to use art therapy with my clients? No, but it certainly helps.

I was particularly humbled in reading the chapter on music therapy written by Dr. Jennifer Jones, who is a board certified music therapist who's resume includes working with children as well as working in an acute psychiatric hospital and working with substance abuse patients in recovery. Dr. Jones defines music therapy, gives examples, gives a historical perspective, speaks to the benefits of music therapy, and lists several techniques along with case examples. A music therapist needs to be highly skilled as a musician as well as a therapeutic clinician. Music therapy can include selecting a piece of music for clients to listen to on one end of the continuum, and on the other end, a music therapist should be able to assist clients to write songs and compose their own music as a part of the therapy as well as to help client create musical improvisations.

Those seeking further information about a field of discipline will be pleased. Each chapter includes a meaty reference list, including books and articles from academic journals. A helpful appendix lists "Resources for Further Exploration" for each chapter. Here we find professional associations, study centers, internet resources, and professional journals. For example, resources for mindfulness include the Mind and Life Institute (co-founded by the Dali Lama), Sounds True: Audio, Video, and Music for the Inner Life, several periodicals, The Institute of Noetic Sciences, and four additional internet resources. Clearly those wanting more information will find it here.

If you are considering adding a complimentary or alternative therapy to your practice but you are not sure which area to focus on, this book is a great place to start. If you already know which alternative therapy you will to explore, perhaps you would be better off selecting a book in your area of interest.