Main description:

In Beyond Therapy, Erving Polster examines the role of "life focus" in three of society's most familiar activities: ordinary conversation, the arts, and religion. He shows the life focus movement to be an indivisible complement to just simply living. In proposing a paradigm shift from psychotherapy's priority for changing people's troubled lives into the complementary purpose of illuminating their lives, the author invites the participation of many people who do not seek remedial treatment for emotional or psychological problems. Polster incorporates a broader scenario for enhancing attention through community groups, showing that the convergence of people's minds on commonly important life themes creates enlightenment. This interlocked focus amplifies the ensuing conversational content and creates a meditation-like absorption. This kind of pointed focus, argues Polster, has the power to colour the lives of the participants. This work offers rationale and design for life focus community groups, and also creates a heightened identity for the life focus movement, providing other foundational ideas that help to unify diverse approaches.
Mental health professionals will benefit from its wealth of specific exercises and instructions for program design. Polster provides leaders and group members with a well-rounded perspective on the basics of personal enlightenment and communal belonging.

Contents:

Acknowledgements Section A. The Importance of Life Focus 1 What I Mean By Life Focus 2 The Drama of the Split Mind 3 Life as Microcosm 4 A Focus Revolution Section B. How Life Focus Groups Work 5 Life Focus Community: Design Ideas 6 Artful Engagement 7 Themes that Mark a Lifetime 8 Communal Setting Section C. Social Implications of Life Focus 9 From the Supernatural to the Human: Part 1 10 From the Supernatural to the Human: Part 2 11 A Psychotherapeutic Morality 12 Dependable Identity 13 Belonging and Indivisibility 14 A Social Trust Bibliography Index