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Review
"The new edition of this successful text builds on the very latest research to present an original and unique exploration of the psychology of both spirituality and psychosis. The editor brings together fascinating perspectives from a broad range of distinguished contributors." (Studies in Spirituality, 2011)
"This book is an updated and expanded version of a collection of essays first published about ten years ago, when some of the ideas it explores were fairly news ... This book is generally written at an accessible level, and draws on much useful recent research in this area. Section 5, entitled ‘Research′, would be the most fruitful part for a non–specialist to sample." (The Way, 1 January 2012)
"This book is aimed at anyone interested in the phenomenon of psychosis." (Mental Health Practice, 1 March 2011)
Review
‘Spirituality is the key strand that unites the great variety of cultural understandings of psychosis with recovery. This text contains contributions from leading authorities in the field; it points towards a more complete human approach to psychosis, and challenges long–held assumptions about the nature of human experience. It should be read by all mental health practitioners and students, and will be of interest to academics in theology, anthropology and philosophy, as well as service users and carers.’
—Professor Philip Thomas, University of Bradford, UK
—Professor Philip Thomas, University of Bradford, UK
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a book which requires close attention. Isabel Clarke wrote a first edition some ten years ago. This second edition has some of the same material and a number of new chapters.
She is a clinical psychologist who observed that many of her patients used religious language in describing their experiences. Conventional medicine has no room for notions of consciousness beyond the brain i.e. spiritual experience. However, many of the contributors feel that brain structure-for all recent advances in charting its architecture-is inadequate in explaining subjective experience,especially of the mystical sort. Moreover, such experience is pathologised by much of the mainstream establishment.
The book explores ways in which mental breakdown is potentially a 'breakthorugh' to a healthier state, and although the journey can be terrifying at times, there can also be moments of insight and a deeper connection with a wider reality. Isabel Clarke has a theory of not separating altered states of consciousness in 'high mysticism' and 'low psychosis' but regarding it as a breakdown of boundaries of the self. Some enter it and return with their lives enriched but other seem to get stuck there and their lives are impoverished. There is fascinating examination of the different perspectives on this phenomena and some moving first hands accounts by 'experiencers' as she calls them-a less pathologising term.
One of the best contributions by an 'experiencer' is by Peter Chadwick who suffered psychosis and writes about his experiences. He has two doctorates and tries now to integrate science, art and spirituality. He argues it cannot be done via a model based only on the physical sciences. I have heard him speak and he is both a practical commentator and very compassionate human being.
Those familiar with Jung and his breakdown which ultimately proved to be the source of his wisdom, will find much that is familiar but couched in contemporary terms with reference to modern 21st century psychology.
There is a conclusion or summary at the end of each chapter. She ends the book with a discussion of the different contributions and makes the point that we cannot hope to grasp it with our intellect alone and 'our ability to manipulate the environment, as it is literally beyond this grasp. This un-grasp ability has led to its marginalisation in a technical era.
We need, she insists, to re-conceptualise our understanding of mental illness and remove the stigma and be open minded to the different ways of understanding it and the essence of the human psyche. If one takes this book in conjunction with near death experiences and even, possibly, mediumship; then there are grounds for a real paradigm shift-if that's not a cliche.
I would recommend this book highly for those who want examine the developing models of human consciousness. Even if it is generated by the human brain and dies with it, this book will show the human psyche to be greater complexity and greater capabilities of self healing than we are currently aware. But be prepared to have to re-read to fully grasp it.
She is a clinical psychologist who observed that many of her patients used religious language in describing their experiences. Conventional medicine has no room for notions of consciousness beyond the brain i.e. spiritual experience. However, many of the contributors feel that brain structure-for all recent advances in charting its architecture-is inadequate in explaining subjective experience,especially of the mystical sort. Moreover, such experience is pathologised by much of the mainstream establishment.
The book explores ways in which mental breakdown is potentially a 'breakthorugh' to a healthier state, and although the journey can be terrifying at times, there can also be moments of insight and a deeper connection with a wider reality. Isabel Clarke has a theory of not separating altered states of consciousness in 'high mysticism' and 'low psychosis' but regarding it as a breakdown of boundaries of the self. Some enter it and return with their lives enriched but other seem to get stuck there and their lives are impoverished. There is fascinating examination of the different perspectives on this phenomena and some moving first hands accounts by 'experiencers' as she calls them-a less pathologising term.
One of the best contributions by an 'experiencer' is by Peter Chadwick who suffered psychosis and writes about his experiences. He has two doctorates and tries now to integrate science, art and spirituality. He argues it cannot be done via a model based only on the physical sciences. I have heard him speak and he is both a practical commentator and very compassionate human being.
Those familiar with Jung and his breakdown which ultimately proved to be the source of his wisdom, will find much that is familiar but couched in contemporary terms with reference to modern 21st century psychology.
There is a conclusion or summary at the end of each chapter. She ends the book with a discussion of the different contributions and makes the point that we cannot hope to grasp it with our intellect alone and 'our ability to manipulate the environment, as it is literally beyond this grasp. This un-grasp ability has led to its marginalisation in a technical era.
We need, she insists, to re-conceptualise our understanding of mental illness and remove the stigma and be open minded to the different ways of understanding it and the essence of the human psyche. If one takes this book in conjunction with near death experiences and even, possibly, mediumship; then there are grounds for a real paradigm shift-if that's not a cliche.
I would recommend this book highly for those who want examine the developing models of human consciousness. Even if it is generated by the human brain and dies with it, this book will show the human psyche to be greater complexity and greater capabilities of self healing than we are currently aware. But be prepared to have to re-read to fully grasp it.
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