This overview CD covers demographic and neurological research, and common clinical issues involved in the subject of spirituality and religion.

1.  Thomas Plante, Ph.D.    "Research"

We begin with some surprising research on statistics about the American population's attitudes towards religion and spirituality in contrast with statistics about the attitudes of mental health professionals, plus some very startling research on distance prayer and the positive health consequences of religiosity and spirituality.

2.  Andrew Newberg, MD.    "Neurology and Meditation"

Dr. Newberg discusses his research into the brain's center for religious activity and demonstrates that whatever our individual beliefs, human beings are hard-wired for spirituality. (Many people are uncomfortable with that phrase, "hard-wired for spirituality," because of its use by some ultra fundamental religious groups. But neurological findings indicate convincingly that this is the case).

3.  Terry Northcut, Ph.D.    "Overview"

In this interview, Dr. Northcut, an experienced clinician and teacher, presents an overview on how spirituality works in actual practice.

It's only recently in the history of humankind that healing was not done through some kind of spiritual or religious practice. Notions and images from the religious upbringing of our childhoods don't go away. They remain as powerful parts of our selves and our psyches.

On this CD, we cover the inclusion of crisis of faith and spiritual emergencies in the DSM. Then we will begin our exploration of how spirituality plays out in the work of many dedicated practitioners.

4.  David Lukoff, Ph.D.     "DSM and Spiritual Emergencies " 

Dr. Lukoff explains the various syndromes and symptoms of spiritual emergencies and the importance of differential diagnosis between psychotic episodes and spiritual crisis.

5.  Constance Goldberg, LCSW.    "Ways of Listening to Spiritual Content"

Mrs. Goldberg describes and explains three approaches to how we listen to religious material in the clinical setting.

In this CD, we continue looking how spirituality gets incorporated into traditional practice.

6.  Carolyn Jacobs, Ph.D.     "Relational Approach " 

Before utilizing any spiritual interventions, many researchers and clinicians, as well as many professional codes of ethics, insist that at a minimum, a brief spiritual assessment should be performed on all clients to assess their religious and spiritual concerns. This is because of the demonstrated positive health consequences of religiosity and spirituality, as well to determine whether the clients' spiritual beliefs and communities can be used as healing and coping resources. Dr. Jacobs addresses the subject of the spiritual assessment, as well as other experiences related to spirituality that arise in the treatment process.

7.  William O'Hanlon, MS    "Spirituality and Brief Therapy"

Spirituality and Brief, Solution Focused treatment have much in common. Here, Dr. O'Hanlon, one of the founders of Brief, Solution Focused therapy, explains the positive, future focus of both and why they are so helpful.

As we have heard in the previous interviews, there are a number of different approaches and sets of intervention strategies for incorporating the spiritual dimesions into our counseling and therapy practices. On this CD, we will explore two less well known perspectives: Jungian dream work, and Zen meditation.

8.  Priscilla Murr, Ph.D., LPC      "Jung and Dreams"

Central to Jung's approach to psychotherapy is the value and importance of the spiritual dimension of human existence. To become a whole human includes the integration of the spiritual as well as the psychic. In his work with patients, Dr. Jung witnessed the natural healing mechanism of the dream, and thus for Jung, the dream is a teacher and guide on the road towards wholeness. Dr. Murr leads us through an explanation of how this process works.

9.  Barry Magid, MD.    "Zen and Psychotherapy"

Here we look at how the worlds of Zen and psychotherapy can operate in harmony with each other. Both of these systems of thought address the problems of the human mind and human suffering. Ideally, by being able to transcend and overcome unwelcome thoughts, desires and beliefs, the Zen oriented therapist is able to be deeply empathic with clients, without countertransference distortions, and has a greater capacity for tolerating disturbing affects and tensions. Dr. Magid, a psychoanalyst and Zen master describes this process.