The techniques of psychotherapy are often given undue emphasis, slighting the importance of the psychotherapist. Research suggests that the same techniques are differently effective when used by equally trained and supervised therapists. Not only are some therapists more effective, irrespective of the type of therapy they practice, but some, because of their personal qualities, may actually harm those with whom they work. This research reflects the vast importance of the personality of the therapist, evoking the question of how a therapist may develop personhood. Aimed at training as well as practicing psychotherapists - social workers, counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists - this scholarly exploration of personhood includes various models for classifying the types of psychotherapy and the place of personhood in this context, as well as a review of existing theory and research literature on specific personal therapist variables as they relate to therapy outcome. The role of traditional spirituality in the development of personhood is given particular emphasis.

This innovative, interdisciplinary study offers the first comprehensive examination of the psychodynamic theories of artistic creativity and the arts. Neither oversimplifying the complexity of these theories, nor bogging down in pedantic discourse, it honors the depth and richness of the work of Freud, Adler, Kris, Reich, Jung, and several lesser-known theorists, while making their theories readily accessible to the educated reader. After presenting the nature and the role of theory, the work offers each concept as a readily usable template for describing and understanding a work of art, whether painting, sculpture, music, dance, film, poetry, or prose. With these theories at hand, anyone interested in the arts will possess a far richer vocabulary for describing the artistic experience and a deeper understanding of the artist's creativity.

The pagan mythology of the Vikings offers a rich metaphor of consciousness. For the first time, the cosmography contained in Norse mythology is presented as a map of human consciousness, a landscape of the soul. Each of the nine worlds of this cosmography is explored as a symbol of a particular type of consciousness, each world emblematic of a particular perspective and way of relating to others. In addition, the individual gods and goddesses of the warrior and the fertility races are considered as nuanced personifications of their worlds. The parameters of Norse mythology, space, time, and awareness, are revealed through Yggdrasil (the World Tree connecting the nine worlds), the Norns (maidens representing past, present, and future), and the runes (""magical"" symbols communicating the mysteries), respectively. The centrality of the struggle between the giants, as agents of chaos, and the warrior gods is explored within this matrix of extension, duration, and mindfulness. The philosophical core of this pagan mythology is furthered clarified by comparing and contrasting the Sayings of Odin from the Norse Edda with the Christian Ten Commandments that confronted the Vikings. Anyone interested in the psychology of consciousness or Norse mythology will find a wealth of material herein.

Edward W.L. Smith, Ph.D. is a "therapist's therapist" - a teacher, trainer, mentor and author - whose writings from 1972 - 2009, capture the essence of Gestalt therapy's contribution to psychotherapeutic practice - the embodied patient. From Freud and Reich, to Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, to Perls and Polster - projection and retroflection, contact boundary disturbances, awe and terror in insight and expression, the meaning of the person of the therapist, and working with the client's breathing and posture - the essays and articles in this book incorporate Gestalt theory, applications, history and philosophical roots, yet they never leave the consulting room. Students, trainees and seasoned therapists alike will find themselves stimulated and energized in their work with clients. After earning a B.A. degree in psychology from Drake University, and an M.S. in experimental psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky, Edward W. L. Smith taught at Georgia State University and then pursued an18-year full-time independent practice of psychotherapy in Atlanta. Returning to academia, he was the founding Director of Clinical Training for the Psy.D. program at Georgia Southern University, where he is now professor emeritus. Edward is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, and the Georgia Psychological Association. He has been an international workshop leader for nearly 40 years. He holds the certificate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and was an early member of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. His books include The Growing Edge of Gestalt Therapy (Ed.), The Body in Psychotherapy, Sexual Aliveness: A Reichian Gestalt Perspective, Not Just Pumping Iron: On the Psychology of Lifting Weights, Gestalt Voices (Ed.), Touch in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice (Co-ed. with Pauline Clance & Suzanne Imes), and The Person of the Therapist. Edward pursues jazz with a tenor saxophone as an erotic balance to his logos-heavy professional writing. The poetry Muses sometimes beckon him, as well.

As a therapist, do you ever shake hands with a client? Do you ever lightly touch a client's hand or shoulder as a conversational marker? What happens if you inadvertently touch a client? Nonerotic touch is a powerful form of communication, and research and clinical experience indicate that it can contribute to positive therapeutic change when used appropriately. This thoughtful book brings together experienced clinicians to review the research and to offer ethical, theoretical, and practical guidelines for using nonerotic touch in therapy settings. Featuring extensive clinical commentary and case examples, chapters address such topics as evaluating a client's desire to be touched, working with survivors of sexual abuse, the role of touch in regression and reparenting approaches, communicating with clients about the use of touch, and managing "touch errors."