There's Always Help; There's Always Hope

May 15, 2006
A patient can heal psychologically if he or she really wants to by dealing first with bodily symptoms, then mental/emotional aspects, and then spiritual concepts and then by integrating all three. Psychologist Wood (medicine, Univ. of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine) uses this theme to develop an approach for people who think they might have primary psychiatric conditions and don't know where to turn, though those with longstanding problems who have had no relief from their symptoms may also find this book useful. Theorizing that people can heal by seeing parts of themselves through others' stories, Wood shares tales from patients with multiple-personality, panic, obsessive-compulsive, and attention-deficit disorders. A more interesting approach would have been to track these same patients through the four-step process she advocates. Although too cerebral to effect much in the way of real spiritual change, the book is adequate as a source of pointers on gaining better mental functioning and/or emotional survival. For example, a -Feelings Vocabulary - helps distinguish -disorder feelings - from -core feelings - and is a good basic diagnostic tool. Recommended for psychology collections in larger public libraries." -Lisa Liquori, MLS, Syracuse, NY"

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