Soul Therapy: The Art and Craft of Caring Conversations

by Thomas Moore

Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of the classic The Care of the Soul addresses the needs of those providing soul care to others—therapists, psychiatrists, ministers, spiritual directors, teachers, and even friends—sharing his insights for incorporating a spiritual or soulful dimension into their work and practices.

Soul Therapy is the culmination of Thomas Moore’s work. In his previous acclaimed books, he explored the soul in important areas of our lives—work, sex, marriage, family, religion, and aging. In this wise guide, he now returns to his core vocation: teaching practitioners—therapists, psychiatrists, ministers, spiritual directors, and others—how to offer soul care to those they assist.

A training manual infused with a lifetime’s worth of wisdom, Soul Therapy is divided into five sections: 

1. What therapy or “soul care” is and how it works;
2. What soul work is required of the helper to be able to address the needs of others;
3. How to access and move forward the spiritual dimension;
4. How to apply this work to specific areas, such as work, marriage, parenting, or teaching;
5. How to deal with other issues that arise, such as developing a therapeutic style, dealing with one’s shadow, and the need for self-care. 

Profound yet practical, enlightened yet grounded in real-world experience, Soul Therapy will become a definitive resource for caregivers and practitioners for years to come. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063071438
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,134,729
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Thomas Moore is the author of the bestselling Care of the Soul and twenty other books on spirituality and depth psychology that have been translated into thirty languages. He has been practicing depth psychotherapy for thirty-five years. He lectures and gives workshops in several countries on depth spirituality, soulful medicine, and psychotherapy. He has been a monk and a university professor, and is a consultant for organizations and spiritual leaders. He has often been on television and radio, most recently on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part 1 The Material

Chapter 1 Therapy as Care 3

Chapter 2 The Stories We Live 17

Chapter 3 Buried Myths 31

Chapter 4 The Symptom as a Vehicle of Change 47

Chapter 5 Beware the Transference 55

Chapter 6 Serenity 69

Part 2 The Vessel

Chapter 7 Build the Vessel 81

Chapter 8 Listening 91

Chapter 9 Getting Stuck 101

Chapter 10 The Mist of Childhood 111

Part 3 Soul Stuff

Chapter 11 Dream Work 129

Chapter 12 Complexes 141

Chapter 13 How Involved Should You Be? 153

Part 4 Therapy in the World

Chapter 14 Caring for the World's Soul 165

Chapter 15 Therapy at Work 173

Chapter 16 Healing Society's Soul 185

Chapter 17 Parents as Soul Guides 193

Part 5 The Therapist

Chapter 18 Couples in Therapy 205

Chapter 19 A Therapist's Self-Care 219

Chapter 20 A Therapeutic Style 229

Chapter 21 Psychotherapy and Spiritual Direction 239

Chapter 22 A Therapist's Shadow 257

Chapter 23 The Power of the Therapeutic 269

Chapter 24 The Therapist in Everyone 275

References 285

Acknowledgments 287

Editorial Reviews

With depth and wisdom, Thomas Moore makes plain the complicated business of how one soul helps another. Everyone could use this sage counsel.” — Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Road Back to You

“Moore has done a great service by reinterpreting soul therapy as deep friendship—not only with others but also with the world. The genius of what he has done consists not only of revisioning therapy but revisioning friendship as well.” — Robert Sardello, Director of The School of Integral Spiritual Psychology

“Thomas Moore is an authentic example of a new kind of therapist—a doctor of the soul—which in our century has been in short supply.”   — Larry Dossey, author of Healing Words

"A profound book by a spiritual master, designed to help us care for others. Whether you're a professional therapist or simply a friend wanting to help, Soul Therapy will give you practical and proven advice on how to provide soul care. I've always hoped to find a book like this." — James Martin, SJ, author of Learning to Pray

“In this timely book for troubled times, Moore guides us through the art of listening. As a musician, I know that performance involves responding sensitively to what we hear. It is illuminating to read that this is vital in all aspects of life. I will share this book with many.” — Simone Dinnerstein, classical pianist

From the Publisher

Moore has done a great service by reinterpreting soul therapy as deep friendship—not only with others but also with the world. The genius of what he has done consists not only of revisioning therapy but revisioning friendship as well.

Robert Sardello

"A profound book by a spiritual master, designed to help us care for others. Whether you're a professional therapist or simply a friend wanting to help, Soul Therapy will give you practical and proven advice on how to provide soul care. I've always hoped to find a book like this."

James Martin

With depth and wisdom, Thomas Moore makes plain the complicated business of how one soul helps another. Everyone could use this sage counsel.

Ian Morgan Cron

In this timely book for troubled times, Moore guides us through the art of listening. As a musician, I know that performance involves responding sensitively to what we hear. It is illuminating to read that this is vital in all aspects of life. I will share this book with many.

Simone Dinnerstein

Thomas Moore is an authentic example of a new kind of therapist—a doctor of the soul—which in our century has been in short supply.”  

Larry Dossey