Grace for the Injured Self: The Healing Approach of Heinz Kohut

The proposal of Grace for the Injured Self is to help the reader to understand the significance of psychological injuries that we all may suffer. Even under the best circumstances in life, these injuries may threaten our self-cohesion and self-esteem. Cooper and Randall refer to the self psychology approach and perspective of Heinz Kohut -considered by many people as the most significant psychoanalyst since Sigmund Freud- as a way of healing these injuries. The book constantly stresses the empathic presence of another as a source of grace: the empathic responsiveness of others holds our selves together and helps us not to fall apart.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Greetings to Our Readers 1 The Self Psychology Perspective 2 Self Injury and the Human Condition 3 Kohut and the Seven Deadly Sins 4 A New Pastoral Care Orientation for Parishioners 5 Pastoral Care of the Church as a Group Self 6 First Interview with Heinz Kohut 7 Second Interview with Heinz Kohut 8 Getting Something from Kohut's Perspective on Religion Closing Words for Our Readers Bibliography

About the Author :
Terry D. Cooper, EdD, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, and Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at Webster University. He has authored or coauthored eleven books. Robert L. Randall, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, now in private practice. He is the author of seven books and numerous articles. Terry D. Cooper, EdD, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, and Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at Webster University. He has authored or coauthored eleven books. Robert L. Randall, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, now in private practice. He is the author of seven books and numerous articles.

Review :
"...I recommend the book to readers concerned with the interaction of psychology, Christian communities, and faith that reaches out of the pain of Gethsemane..." Tracy E Martin, Theological book review, Vol. 24, No 2, 2012. '...plenty to think through as we grapple with both the ideal and everyday reality...' Dr Anne Spalding, Church Times, 15 March 2013. "This is a book for those engaged in pastoral care, as well as those in the field of psychology, and, in fact, for all denominational leaders and teachers who try to be channels of healing grace, as well as for those injured ministers of grace themselves." --Rosalind Smith, in The Christian Parapsychologist, Vol I, No 9, September 2013