Grace Unfolding

When I first began to write Grace Unfolding, I wondered how well we could communicate the style and feel of subtle therapeutic encounters in a simple, non-technical way for those who might wish to enter into them. The response has been quite gratifying. Below is a short overview of the book followed by a number of people who have graciously offered their comments.

Japanese translation ISBN 4-393-32218-5
Korean translation ISBN 978-89-92654-04-3

Grace Unfolding applies the spirit and principles of Lao Tsu’s ancient Chinese classic, the Tao- te ching, to the practice of contemporary psychotherapy. Both clients and therapists can use this sensible and compassionate book to understand the roles they play in the therapeutic process. It offers a key to understanding and benefiting from many schools of therapy, and educates its readers in the concept of mindfulness that helps give the skills and awareness to make therapy as successful as possible. Both subtly and directly Grace Unfolding deals with such important issues as the nature of the client-therapist relationship, the use of the body in therapy, and the meaning of nonviolence and nondoing. It places the gentle, paradoxical power and wisdom of the Tao-te ching in the hands of new generations of those who seek psychological balance and integration of mind, body, and spirit.

Link to an excerpt of Grace Unfolding first published in Common Boundary.

Reviews of Grace Unfolding

“It takes half a lifetime to realize what all spiritual masters have taught us—that true power comes from the synthesis of opposites. Save yourself a lot of time and read this remarkable book!” –JOHN BRADSHAW, author of Bradshaw of The Family and Homecoming

“A joy…like breathing clear mountain air. As I read it from the viewpoint of either therapist or client, I felt safe—in a world I could trust, sure that I would be understood and have the space to grow.” – ALBERT PESSO, author of Movement in Psychotherapy, and Experience in Action

“a fascinating blend of Eastern spirituality, Western psychotherapy, feminist consciousness, and real caring. In a clear, gentle, and sometimes humorous voice, it speaks to us of therapy as partnership, as “being in communion’ with the task of the therapist to help us be more aware of our unique individuality, our connection with all life, and –above all—our own inner wisdom.” --RIANE EISLER, author of The Chalice and the Blade

“easy to read, yet profound, and it is a pleasure to have Lao Tzu made so accessible and related to psychotherapy. This is a welcome focus on the yin of therapy, at a time when the expectation that therapists be doing, asserting, directing, medicating, and treating is so heavily weighted. . .I resonate with the very sensitive, gentle way (the book) attend(s) to the body and use(s) body-information to identify and amplify the therapeutic content.” --DELDONE ANNE MCNEELY, author of Touching: Body Therapy & Depth Psychology

“A grace-full treasury of wholistic, therapeutic gems from a wise guide of the ancient East; gently related, with illuminating clinical examples, to healing & wholeness methods for use by both clients and therapists! Balances, corrects, and complements the healing wisdom of analytic and problem-solving Western Psychotherapies!” --HOWARD CLINEBELL, author of Basic Types of Pastoral Counseling and Well Being

“It’s a lovely, amazingly clear book. Only those who know therapeutic ways of working deeply from inside can describe them this well.” --EUGENE GENDLIN, author of Focusing

“a real gift to clients and their therapists. Full of wise teaching, this book can help us gain trust in ourselves and in the exciting process of change. Grace Unfolding is a wonderful contribution to the field of psychotherapy.” --GUNILLA NORRIS, author of Being Home, Inviting Silence, and Sharing Silence

“a delightful tool for refreshing in the spirit of ancient wisdom.” --DAVID FEINSTEIN, author of Personal Mythology, Rituals for Living and Dying, and Energy Psychology Interactive.

“a great idea…It helps bridge two great traditions in a creative way that is quite unique.” CLYDE RIED, author of The Return to Faith: Finding God in the Unconscious

“This wonderfully insightful book is about the process of human transformation. (It) teaches how to allow health to emerge through trust and awareness of what already is. It speaks with clarity about seeing “resistance” as a door to wholeness.” --TILDA NORBERG, author of Stretch Out Your Hand

“This is not a typical self-help book! It is rather a gift which allows us to sink into ourselves, as non-clinging observers of our own experience. This book models a path of liberation for all of us, clients and therapists alike, inviting us to trust the flow of life and its healing.” --WILLIAM S. SCHMIDT, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, St. Stephen’s College of the University of Edmonton

“Its quiet voice, wise, compelling, speaking to both clients and therapists, is remarkably effective.” --DAVID LOYE, author of The Sphinx and the Rainbow.

“Grace Unfolding is an inspirational book for every person in ministry and psychotherapy to read as a reminder of our true calling.” --JEANNE D. WEIKERT, Journal of Pastoral Care

“Grace Unfolding has reinspired me to listen more closely, to allow myself as both therapist and client to move only in accordance with the what is that is taking place.” --LYNN VAUGHN, Transactional Analysis Journal.