Healing The Male Psyche: Therapy as Initiation (Paperback)

by John Rowan (Author) "In this chapter we shall be considering the masculine role..." (more)
Key Phrases: profeminist therapy, psychotherapy with men, bad penis, Materia Prima, James Hillman, Ken Wilber (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Enthralling...this is a well researched and considered text, which should be read by all practitioners who have an interest in gender relations, sexual identity, and emotional and psychological health. - Mental Health Care

I have read a lot of books about gender, therapy and society but nothing equal to the intellectual, imaginative and humane scope of Rowans comprehensive work ... a superb resource for therapists. - Andrew Samuels

Healing the Male Psyche is specifically addressed to men and their therapists, but is a valuable compendium of information and approaches covering the broad range of gender issues. With his usual bracing clarity and compassionate touch, John Rowan guides us through the promises and the pitfalls of therapy, as well as the potentials and the perils of being a man in today's splintered world. A bold and comprehensive approach to this nightmare called men and women.
–Ken Wilber

Ihave read alot of books about gender, therapy and society but nothing equal to the intellectual, imaginative and humane scope of Rowan's comprehensive work . . . a superb resource for therapists.
–Andrew Samuels

The women's movement has a made a powerful difference in understanding what it is like to be a woman today, and how therapy must be reconceptualized for women. John Rowan has done this for men!.
–Alvin Mahrer

Product Description
Much of what was once taken for granted about gender roles has shifted, leaving a lack of desirable or achievable roles for men. John Rowan believes that the male psyche has been wounded by the new pressures of social uncertainty and needs to be healed. In Healing the Male Psyche, he explores the concept of masculinity using the work of Ken Wilber as a central guide and Jungian Alchemy as a framework within which to discuss the process of change. This change is personal to each man and involves aspects of the body, emotions, rational understanding and soul; however, because the required change is so major, a continuous process is needed to guide through the ups and downs, contradictions and paradoxes along the way.

Addressed to men who are looking to understand their predicament as well as counsellors and psychotherapists, the book is packed with useful exercises and supported by wide range of references.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (January 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415100496
• ISBN-13: 978-0415100496
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,703,244 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly for therapists, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

I was looking for anecdotes of men in therapy. I had read Men's Dreams, Men's Healing by Robert Hopcke and was looking for more of the same. This book is NOT that. It reads more like a dissertation that has been turned into a book. There are references to other works at least once a paragraph. Once I got over the dry format, I actually got a lot out of this book. It's really a book for professionals in the field, but not hard to follow for layfolk. It's his theory in relation to other theories. If this is ok with you, go for it. If not, I'd suggest Iron John by Robert Bly(myth emphasized) or the Hopcke book(clients emphasized), a bit more juice. But this book is very good for what it is.