Overview

Spirituality has emerged as a prominent theme in contemporary culture. It is seen in issues as diverse as Eastern philosophies and religious awakenings; its psychological impact is apparent in alternative medicine, Alcoholics Anonymous, and meditation. In their own ways, each of these has helped people get relief from the problems psychiatrists often treat. But the mental health profession has generally ignored these isues, focusing on specific target symptoms, from anxiety to heavy drinking. Their efforts rely increasingy on medications and brief therapies as they succumb to the chilling influence of managed care. This raises an important question: Can the spiritual and professional, two perspectives that seem different, be reconciled? This book is designed to provide an answer to this question. It draws on recent findings in psychology, neuroscience, and innovative therapies to understand how people in America and worldwide express their spiritual needs. It then shows how the mentally ill, substance abusers, and people troubled by a sense that something is missing in their lives can be helped by developing a sense of personal meaning, while still benefitting from contemporary therapy and medications. Finally, it examines shortcomings in both the biomedical and spiritually-oriented approaches. The book draws on clinical experience and recent research studies, including the author's work over thirty years. This is enhanced by case studies drawn from patients, mental health professionals, the lay public, and even cult members. All this is brought together to create a vivid understanding of how mental health treatment can be made more effective by giving meaning to people's lives.

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9780195176698

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Reviews

This book is very well written and is filled with stories of the experiences of mental health patients and professionals. Dr Galanter's arguments are very well constructed and persuasive. He believes that as mental health professionals we can integrate our biomedical model with helping our patients in their search for meaning in their lives. Psychological Medicine

This book is very well written and is filled with stories of the experiences of mental health patients and professionals. Dr Galanter's arguments are very well constructed and persuasive. He believes that as mental health professionals we can integrate our biomedical model with helping our patients in their search for meaning in their lives. Psychological Medicine

A history, replete with stories and case examples, of the interface between spirituality and psychiatry, spanning world religions, cults, medication, meditation, placebo effects, and spiritual recovery groups. Galanter advocates a therapeutic approach that is based on spirituality and more generally on the exploration of human meaning and values. -William R. Miller, PhD Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, The University of New Mexico A scholarly but also compassionate study of individual and especially group means to achieve meaning in life. I had been troubled that things as diverse as an AA meeting, a jazz concert, and a church service have all been termed 'spiritual.' The book's first contribution is the clearest and most complete discussion of this concept I have read. The second contribution is its combination of seasoned clinical experience with thoughtful historical and cultural contextual work to explain some of the more remarkable and sometimes disturbing efforts to attain spiritual meaning. I came away more informed but also more inquisitive about man's seemingly universal yearning for meaning. You can't ask more from a book than that! -A. Thomas McLellan, PhD Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment Marc Galanter's rich career experiences augment an extensive literature in this milestone volume. Case vignettes, quantitative data, and balanced interpretations bridge the intersections between our personal meanings and ultimate goals, and those of our patients. -Joe Westermeyer, MD, PhD Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, University of Minnesota A wonderful marriage of psychotherapy and spirituality. It captures the curative elements of each, and helps the therapist see the value of melding the two. --Maryann Amodeo, MSW, PhD, President, Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse At a time when managed care is carving the humanistic traditions out of psychiatric care, Dr. Galanter provides us with this beautifully written and compelling book. It guides us in understanding how spiritual pathways help people in distress to find comfort and personal meaning. -Edward J. Khantzian, MD Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School The most authoritative text on this subject yet to be published. It blends together culture and spirituality with neuroscience and mental sciences to offer new perspectives and meanings to patients. The clinical scope and vision of the book are unlimited. Dr. Galanter has creatively produced an invaluable resource not only for mental health professionals but also for all professionals in the healing arts field. -Pedro Ruiz, MD President-Elect, American Psychiatric Association A unique aspect of this book is the involvement of its author in investigating spirituality first hand and theoretically since the seventies. The anecdotal style gives the impression that the book is almost a history of the growing interest in spirituality and health over the past several decades. --Doody's ...provides a carefully argued case for taking patients' spiritualities into account in psychiatric care. --Brain This book is very well written and is filled with stories of the experiences of mental health patients and professionals...I would highly recommend this book as an enjoyable and educational read for anyone with an interest in mental health and spirituality. --Psychological Medicine Spirituality and the Healthy Mind provides a valuable introduction to its subject matter and will be informative for readers of varied backgrounds and persuasions. --The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease A wonderful marriage of psychotherapy and spirituality. It captures the curative elements of each, and helps the therapist see the value of melding the two. -Maryann Amodeo, MSW, PhD, President, Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse At a time when managed care is carving the humanistic traditions out of psychiatric care, Dr. Galanter provides us with this beautifully written and compelling book. It guides us in understanding how spiritual pathways help people in distress to find comfort and personal meaning. -Edward J. Khantzian, MD Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School Marc Galanter's rich career experiences augment an extensive literature in this milestone volume. Case vignettes, quantitative data, and balanced interpretations bridge the intersections between our personal meanings and ultimate goals, and those of our patients. -Joe Westermeyer, MD, PhD Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, University of Minnesota A scholarly but also compassionate study of individual and especially group means to achieve meaning in life. I had been troubled that things as diverse as an AA meeting, a jazz concert, and a church service have all been termed 'spiritual.' The book's first contribution is the clearest and most complete discussion of this concept I have read. The second contribution is its combination of seasoned clinical experience with thoughtful historical and cultural contextual work to explain some of the more remarkable and sometimes disturbing efforts to attain spiritual meaning. I came away more informed but also more inquisitive about man's seemingly universal yearning for meaning. You can't ask more from a book than that! -A. Thomas McLellan, PhD Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment A history, replete with stories and case examples, of the interface between spirituality and psychiatry, spanning world religions, cults, medication, meditation, placebo effects, and spiritual recovery groups. Galanter advocates a therapeutic approach that is based on spirituality and more generally on the exploration of human meaning and values. -William R. Miller, PhD Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, The University of New Mexico The most authoritative text on this subject yet to be published. It blends together culture and spirituality with neuroscience and mental sciences to offer new perspectives and meanings to patients. The clinical scope and vision of the book are unlimited. Dr. Galanter has creatively produced an invaluable resource not only for mental health professionals but also for all professionals in the healing arts field. -Pedro Ruiz, MD President-Elect, American Psychiatric Association A unique aspect of this book is the involvement of its author in investigating spirituality first hand and theoretically since the seventies. The anecdotal style gives the impression that the book is almost a history of the growing interest in spirituality and health over the past several decades. --Doody's ...provides a carefully argued case for taking patients' spiritualities into account in psychiatric care. --Brain This book is very well written and is filled with stories of the experiences of mental health patients and professionals...I would highly recommend this book as an enjoyable and educational read for anyone with an interest in mental health and spirituality. --Psychological Medicine Spirituality and the Healthy Mind provides a valuable introduction to its subject matter and will be informative for readers of varied backgrounds and persuasions. It should prove an important aid to professionals seeking a holistic context for this ubiquitous yet elusive topic. --Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

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