Orthodox Psychotherapy (Paperback)

by Esther E. Cunningham Williams (Translator), Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 369 pages
• Publisher: Birth of Theotokos Monastery,Greece (January 1, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 9607070275
• ISBN-13: 978-9607070272
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #805,891 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Fluff, June 3, 2003

By A Customer

I can't tell you how much this book has changed my life. I've been a therapist for years and a friend of mine has begged me to read this book. I despised psychobabble-fluff. After this book I know why! It's a bit difficult to understand particularly if you're not familiar with the Orthodox Church but don't let that scare you off! It's well worth the struggle!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True look at how psychology existed within ancient Christianity, January 30, 2009

By	R. Espiau (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While this book may not be for the novice it is certainly a glimpse into the knowledge of psychology that the early Christians possessed. It presents a very mature, mystical and dare I say? more Gnostic version of Christianity. It is a fantastic must read for anyone who is a therapist trying to present meditation to Christian clients. These days with so many therapies incorporating meditation and mindfulness into treatment; DBT, ACT, MBSR, and the vast majority of the clients having a background within the Christian tradition this book is a fabulous adjunct to the field.

4.0 out of 5 stars Caring-science of soul and mind in Holy Church as hospital, April 13, 2009

By	Edward M. Freeman "Edward M. Freeman" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Birth of the Theotokos Monastery (Levadia, Greece) released this translation of +Hierotheos' (Metropolitan of Nafpaktos) text in 1994. Already well into distribution of the fourth reprint of same, the Monastery responds to the hunger of seekers for counsel about Orthodox Christian treatment for troubles of soul, nous, heart, and mind.

Esther Williams, English-language translator, superbly conveys compassion as embedded in the Greek manuscript. His Eminence, the author, opens the therapeutic advice of pre-Schism Fathers of the Church, such as St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. John Chrysostom, to illustrate protracted evangelism by the Holy Church to 'Person.' Authentic compassion by the author ignites the reader's "Person' to participate in therapy and cure according to the Gospel of Christ.

Concepts in this book alternate between familiar and obtuse to contemporary psychotherapists with training in medicine, psychology, nursing, psychoanalysis, or other modern-sciences without theological foundations or associations identified. Indeed, anyone with modest or no lexical foundation in patristic literature's might mistake the author's vein as occult and/or Gnostic. If the text were to include a dictionary of terms in a subsequent edition (unknown by this reviewer), it would go far to reduce faulty interpretations. However, as it stands now, generous indices of 'persons' and 'subjects' compensate for lack of dictionary.

No doubt modern or post-modern readers may trip on the word 'science' in this book. The central premise of 'Orthodox Psychotherapy' is that Nature can be studied by 'science.' In short, His Eminence +Hierotheus defines science as Nature transformed among Christians so that they may act according to planned therapy and reflect upon consequences of their actions. The study of therapy and consequences to actions can happen within theology alone. Finally, lest mistakes divide readers, the author advances prayer as theology, which is the emphasis of the Orthodox Church concerning theosis or deification. Theosis is the only purpose of the Christian's life.

The mind and, much less, the nous remain charted yet mystical domains in human experience. Mind and nous both disclose and guard their subject. When they disclose, risk of illusion necessitates caution over any attempt to create a spiritual manual, such as a manual for Confession. The author exercises such caution in two major ways. First, he sticks close to the paths of 'watchfulness' cleared by the 'Neptic' Fathers. Second, he returns often to the counsels of St. Gregory Palamas concerning stillness of mind.

I am enthusiastic when recommending this text with two proviso's: (1) Read, discuss, debate, pray, and write about chapter 1: 'What Christianity is' along with 'Author's Prologue' and "Introduction' over time; (2) 'Study' this book by way of prayer.