Into the Mountain Stream ― Psychotherapy and Buddhist Experience

In 12 narratives patients and therapists describe how their practice or respect for Buddhism has affected their personal development and perspective on the life of the mind. In each case they find reasons to expand their understanding of themselves and the tenets of Buddhism while also considering how psychotherapy and Buddhism can inform each other, while throwing in the occasional reference to their other devotions, including basketball and delusion. While some find the relation between Buddhism and psychotherapy to be primarily theoretical or at a philosophical level, others find useful techniques within the practice of both, whether as a therapist or client. The result is a collection of remarkably personal and even humorous comments, often deep and dark, on the connection between one school of thought and another which appears to be situated next door. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Paul C. Cooper maintains a private practice in Manhattan. He is member, training analyst, clinical supervisor and faculty National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, Institute for Expressive Analysis; board member and faculty at the Center for Spirituality and Psychotherapy; editorial board: Psychoanalytic Review and Groundwater: Journal of Buddhism and Psychotherapy. Winner of the 1996 Ernest Angel Award for Affects and Self States: A Case study on the Integration of Buddhist Analytic Meditation and Psychoanalysis; he co-edited Psychotherapy and Religion: Many paths, One Journey (2005: Jason Aronson.).