Contemplation and Counseling - (Christian Association for Psychological Studies Books) by P Gregg Blanton (Paperback)

About the Book

Can contemplative prayer be integrated into therapeutic work? Building an alliance between science, theology, and Christian contemplative thought, Gregg Blanton presents a new paradigm for integrating contemplative prayer with counseling practice. This practical resource offers eleven fundamental interventions to fit the needs of clients and a practical four-stage process for helping clients change.

Book Synopsis

Can contemplative prayer be integrated into therapeutic work? Building an alliance between science, theology, and Christian contemplative thought, Gregg Blanton presents a new paradigm for integrating contemplative prayer with counseling practice. This practical resource offers eleven fundamental interventions to fit the needs of clients and a practical four-stage process for helping clients change.

Review Quotes

"Brilliantly written, Contemplation and Counseling provides a practical guide to integrating contemplative practices into contemporary counseling drawing upon scientific research, clinician theory, and spiritual understanding."

"Gregg Blanton has provided a needed service to the integration world. Contemplation and Counseling sheds light on how a contemplative view of psychology and theology can enhance the therapeutic process. His approach is practical and intervention focused in nature and wisely underscores that contemplative prayer has the potential of leading to deeper awareness of the power of love through real relational connection with a present and communicating God."

"Gregg Blanton immerses us in a rich integration of the pattern of contemplative prayer, the discoveries of relational neuroscience, and the practice of psychotherapy. In lovely detail, he traces how the attributes of the relationship with God that emerge in centering prayer are identical to the attributes that help us be a healing presence for our clients. While this is stated in Christian terms, the process is applicable to anyone-both client and therapist-who senses that spirituality and psychotherapy are intertwined processes. In many ways, it is an invitation to clients as well as therapists to open to the inherent healing wisdom within and become mystics at the same time. This book is beautiful, inspiring, thorough, wise, and filled with heart."

"It is easy to be confused by the extravagant claims made for mindfulness in the media today. Here is a wise and measured guide to understanding the connections between the Christian-contemplative tradition and clinical-mindfulness practices. The book provides a rich survey of a wide range of helpful contemplative sources. It is more than a mere survey of practices and perspectives, it contains a clear invitation for readers to draw close to God through contemplative prayer."

"This book lays out the fascinating links between the tradition of Christian contemplation, mindfulness, and the process of change in psychotherapy. It puts all of these in the context of the vibrant literature that makes up these three fields. Christians everywhere will find it enthralling and practical."

"This is a must-read book for any Christian mental health professional wanting to cultivate the practice of contemplative prayer and to cultivate an experience of love in counseling. Blanton courageously illustrates how love is at the center of the contemplative counseling model that he is proposing, both as the goal and as the means to achieve that aim. He creatively blends findings from neuroscience and attachment science with a Christian theology of love as an antidote to human stress and fear. His contemplative-oriented style of counseling creatively weaves interventions influenced by Carl Rogers, Sue Johnson, Dan Siegel, and others together with interventions grounded in openness to receive God's love. In this inspiring and motivating book, Blanton presents a simple and accessible guide to centering prayer as a practice that can be taught to clients but only after the professional develops their own contemplative practice."

About the Author

P. Gregg Blanton (EdD) is professor of psychology and human services at Montreat College. He is founder of the Center for Contemplation and Marriage and is in private practice in Asheville, North Carolina, where he provides counseling and supervises counselors-in-training. He is the author of Mind Over Marriage: Transforming Your Relationship Using Centering Prayer and Neuroscience.