5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Healing Power of Love, September 26, 2000
As an experienced psychologist working from a collaborative framework with eating and dissociative disorders, I was delighted to find Shared Grace. It has a wealth of information and makes a unique contribution to understanding several aspects of healing. The book describes two parallel journeys. From the beginning, we are introduced to Teresa, a woman who has endured a life of incredible sadism, abuse, neglect, hatred and pain. To cope with her suffering, she has developed DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder,) formerly known as MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). Developing many "parts" of herself has allowed her to cope, protect herself and survive a life of horrifying abuse. Her complex healing journey is one centerpiece of the book.
Parallel and interwoven with Teresa's story, is the story professional collaboration between Dr. Marion Billich, a Jewish psychologist, Steven Carlson, a Christian minister and Susan Bonfiglio, a social worker. Together, these three special human beings developed a collaborative approach in working with her towards healing. Based on their shared belief that the core of healing is developing the capacity to love, they help Teresa deepen her spiritual relationship to each of them, God and the universe. They grow with Teresa and from their work with one another
Shared Grace presesnts a broad theoretical framework for understanding the importance of spirituality and love as the basic ingredients of healing. The authors draw from religious, spiritual and therapeutic experts. The book is especially useful in several ways. In one chapter, it offers hands-on, concrete suggestions regarding creating a collaborative professional relationship. In another chapter, the authors delineate a wide variety of techniques that bridge the gap between psychotherapy and spirituality and are appropriate for therapist, minister or both.
When I finished reading the book, I was reminded of the closing line from the film Shindler's List, "If you save the one life, you save the world." If Teresa's story is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit, the story of Bilich, Bonfiglio and Carlson is a testament to the power of collaboration. As a psychologist with years of collaborative experience, I learned a lot. Shared Grace is a book I will turn to over and over--it is inspiring, uplifting and educative.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Book on Many Levels, August 14, 2000
This review is from: Shared Grace: Therapists and Clergy Working Together (Paperback)
As a social worker I appreciate the professional message of Shared Grace--that our work as mental health professionals is enhanced immeasurably by working collaboratively with clergy--and that through that work we can bring a spiritual dimension into our clients' healing. As a human being, I was touched by the story of Teresa, a woman with multiple personalities, whose story is told throughout the book. The description of the collaboration of her therapist and her pastor and how all were affected by that work together was poignant and meaningful. I especially appreciated how each member of the collaboration spoke in his or her own voice, including one of Teresa's personalities, Justin. The book is practical, clinical, and spiritually satisfying all at the same time. This is one book I intend to read over again.
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