Search for Meaning in Psychotherapy: Spiritual Practice, the Apophatic Way and Bion

The Search for Meaning in Psychotherapy is a 2020 ABAPsa book award winner that explores the contemplative, mystical, and apophatic dimensions of psychoanalysis, focusing on qualities such as presence, awareness, attention, mindfulness, and compassion. It also discusses the relevance of apophatic mysticism to psychoanalysis, inspired by the work of Wilfred Bion. The book is of interest to trainees, practitioners, scholars, and spiritual directors.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 278 pages
\n Publication date: 20 March 2019
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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The 2020 American Board & Academy of Psychoanalysis (ABAPsa) book award winner is a profound exploration into the contemplative, mystical, and apophatic dimensions of psychoanalysis. The book, presented in two parts, delves into the question of how therapists can address the underlying yearning of patients to discover a deeper sense of meaning or purpose in therapy. As Carl Jung and Wilfred Bion noted, patients may be seeking something that transcends the purely psychotherapeutic realm and has a spiritual dimension.

Part One, titled "The Listening Cure: Psychotherapy as Spiritual Practice," examines the intersection of psychotherapy, spirituality, mysticism, meditation, and contemplation. It explores various qualities such as presence, awareness, attention, mindfulness, calm abiding, reverie, patience, compassion, insight, and wisdom, highlighting how these qualities can be enhanced through meditative and spiritual practices. The book also demonstrates how these qualities can contribute to processes of growth, healing, and transformation in patients.

Part Two, titled "A Ray of Divine Darkness: Psychotherapy and the Apophatic Way," explores the relevance of apophatic mysticism to psychoanalysis, particularly drawing inspiration from the work of Wilfred Bion. Apophatic mysticism employs language to point towards absolute reality, which is ineffable and unnameable. Similarly, Bion emphasized that psychoanalysis requires the ability to dwell in mystery, awaiting intimations of ultimate truth that cannot be fully known but can only be realized. Pickering reflects on the works of key apophatic mystics, including Dionysius, Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross, Buddhist teachings on meditation, Śūnyatā and Dzogchen, and Lévinas's ethics of alterity.

The Search for Meaning in Psychotherapy offers valuable insights for therapists seeking to understand the spiritual and mystical aspects of their work. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the contemplative, mystical, and apophatic dimensions of psychoanalysis, offering a rich tapestry of ideas and perspectives that can deepen their understanding and effectiveness in helping patients find meaning and purpose in their lives.

\n Weight: 448g\n
Dimension: 157 x 235 x 17 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781138193079\n \n