Divine Therapy Love, Mysticism and Psychoanalysis

by Sayers, Janet

• ISBN13: 9780198509813
• ISBN10: 0198509812
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-26
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

There is mounting evidence that strong personal relationships and spiritual beliefs contribute to our well-being. Divine Therapy explores the healing illumination of oneness with another, achieved through love, religious and mystical experience. Janet Sayers, author of Mothering Psychoanalysis and Freudian Tales, approaches the topic by analysing the pioneering writings of William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl Gustav Jung, Simone Weil, and of post-Freudians, Erich Kristeva. Using these studies of eminent psychologists and psychotherapists, Sayers explores the insights of love, religion and mystical experience to describe how they might inspire therapy. Richly illustrated with love letters, biographical details, clinical and other examples, Divine Therapy is written to appeal to all mental health specialists, therapists and those intrigued by the enigmas of love, religion and psychotherapy.

Author Biography

After graduating from Cambridge, Janet Sayers qualified as a Clinical Psychologists from the Tavistock Clinic. She is now Professor of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the University of Kent, where she gained a PhD in Psychology, and also works as a therapist. Sayers is the author of six books, editor of three, and has contributed numerous essays and articles to the psychotherapeutic literature.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vi
Acknowledgements	vii
List of Abbreviations	ix
Introduction	1	(6)
Divided self	7	(23)
William James
Freeing love	30	(31)
Sigmund Freud
Transforming libido	61	(32)
Carl Jung
Awaiting God	93	(12)
Simone Weil
Humanist Buddhism	105	(10)
Erich Fromm
Being accepted	115	(14)
Paul Tillich
Logotherapy	129	(19)
Viktor Frankl
Healing grace	148	(14)
Melanie Klein
Recovering mysticism	162	(22)
Marion Milner
Transitional transcendence	184	(16)
Donald Winnicott
Transforming at-one-ment	200	(26)
Wilfred Bion
Mothering holiness	226	(14)
Julia Kristeva
Conclusion	240	(3)
Index	243