Textbook Of Transpersonal Psychiatry And Psychology (Hardcover)

by Bruce Scotton (Editor), Allen Chinen (Editor), John Battista (Editor) "THIS TEXTBOOK PROPOSES a fresh look at what is known about the human psyche: its functioning, development, pathology, and treatment..." (more)
Key Phrases: offensive spirituality, transpersonal psychiatry, personal psychosynthesis, New York, Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This important new book brings together the work of top scholars and clinicians at leading universities and medical centers on the benefits and risks of transpersonal therapy. After comparing a variety of multicultural approaches—Zen Buddhism, existential phenomenology, and Christian mysticism, among many others—the book offers a wealth of information on specific disorders and the application of transpersonal psychology techniques such as visualization, breathwork, and “past lives” regression.With solid scholarship, wide scope, and accessible style, Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology will become the standard work for students, researchers, clinicians, and lay readers interested in extending psychiatry and psychology into sciences that describe the functioning of the human mind, thereby building bridges between those disciplines and spirituality.

About the Author

Bruce W. Scotton, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco and is a Jungian analyst in private practice in San Francisco and Corte Madera. Allan B. Chinen, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco and in private practice in San Francisco. He is the author of Waking the World, In the Ever After, Once Upon a Midlife, and Beyond the Hero. John R. Battista, M.D., M.A., is a longtime student, educator, practitioner, and contributor to the fields of transpersonal psychiatry and psychology. He is currently in private practice in New Milford, CT, and was formerly residency training director in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California at Davis. Bruce W. Scotton, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco and is a Jungian analyst in private practice in San Francisco and Corte Madera. Allan B. Chinen, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco and in private practice in San Francisco. He is the author of Waking the World, In the Ever After, Once Upon a Midlife, and Beyond the Hero. John R. Battista, M.D., M.A., is a longtime student, educator, practitioner, and contributor to the fields of transpersonal psychiatry and psychology. He is currently in private practice in New Milford, CT, and was formerly residency training director in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California at Davis. Bruce W. Scotton, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco and is a Jungian analyst in private practice in San Francisco and Corte Madera. Allan B. Chinen, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco and in private practice in San Francisco. He is the author of Waking the World, In the Ever After, Once Upon a Midlife, and Beyond the Hero. John R. Battista, M.D., M.A., is a longtime student, educator, practitioner, and contributor to the fields of transpersonal psychiatry and psychology. He is currently in private practice in New Milford, CT, and was formerly residency training director in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California at Davis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (May 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465095305
• ISBN-13: 978-0465095308
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #386,841 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, Confirmative, Awesome, A Transpersonal bible!, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

The best collection of Transpersonal data I've found so far. A wonderful place to begin a thorough education on the topic.

This textbook is a journey in itself. It begins with a forward written by Ken Wilber, and has many recognizable contributors such as; Wilber, John Battista, Seymour Boorstein, Charles Tart, Frances Vaughn, Roger Walsh.

This Text offers a thorough introduction and definition of Transpersonal Psychiatry by Bruce W. Scotton: From Part I; "This textbook proposes a fresh look at what is known about the human psyche: its functioning, development, pathology, and treatment. Although traditional psychiatry and psychology have made impressive strides in the understanding of the human mind and brain, they adhere to an unnecessarily restricted view of the psyche and its functioning, and in so doing, they refuse to follow the scientific method. Specifically, our current sciences of the psyche fail to examine the data concerning, build theories to explain, and work therapeutically with spiritual experiences and experiences of nonordinary reality..."

Part II reviews the historic roots of Western Psychiatry and Psychology, and covers contributors such as William James, Sigmond Freud, Carl Jung, Abraham Malsow, Ken Wilber, Stanislov Grof, and John Battista. A later chapter spans the cross-cultural roots including Shamanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Kabbalah, Christian Mysticism, Native American Healers, the Transpersonal view of the life cycle through Fairy Tales. Then finishes with research and academic disciplines.

Part III covers Clinical Practice, Psychotherapy, Psychopharmacology, Clinical Aspects of Meditation, Guided Imagery, Breathwork, Past-Life Therapy, Ethics, and Professional Development.

Part IV The final conclusion offers an Integrated approach from Bruce W. Scotton, M.D. Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Fransisco, and certified Jungian analyst and psychiatrist in private practice; Alan B. Chinen M.D. Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UC, author of numerous works on the transpersonal dimensions of midlife and aging; and John Battista, M.D., M.A. Private practice of psychiatry in New Milford, Connecticut, and author in the fields of consciousness studies and personality theory.

With contents like this, the text speaks for itself.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good overview, March 28, 2001

By	James Crenshaw (Coram, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I am trying to learn more about transpersonal psychology and transpersonal practices. This book more than did the trick. It gave a good overview of the different angles the field touches. It gave great anectdotal stories as well. It is defineity a must have. It introduced many of the fathers of the field and there perspectives; Jung, Maslow, Wilber, Freud, Assogolini. It also showed the contributions of spirtiual traditions:Buddhism, Hinduism, Shamanism, Christianity, Kabbalah. It introduced many techniques used:guided imagery, past life regression, meditation, breathwork, psychedelics.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource!, November 11, 2003

By A Customer

Because transpersonal psychology relies heavily on first hand (subjective) experience, it is extremely difficult to discuss this academically. Despite this difficulty, this book manages to explain and explore the phenomenon quite successfully. This is book covers the transpersonal experience from many different viewpoints and is an excellent resource book for research in this field. If you would like a shorter and more simple explanation of the transpersonal experience, I strongly suggest "The Ever-transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. It is an absolute gem and should be read by everyone interested in transpersonal experiences!