Anthroposophic psychotherapy: extending the art of healing

Publications

Anthroposophic psychotherapy is in the early stages of its development and, in accordance with Steiner and Wegman’s advice to anthroposophic doctors, aims to add ‘further knowledge’ to existing methods because of making discoveries ‘by different methods’.  In accordance with this one book, eight peer reviewed articles and one non peer reviewed article have either been published or accepted for publication in academic and professional journals in the UK or Europe since 2011.  They extend the healing methods of a variety of orientations – psychodynamic, humanistic, integrative, and complementary and alternative medicine.

If you are genuinely thinking of training in anthroposophic psychotherapy at Emerson College and wish to know more about, and gain access to, one of the articles below please follow-up the links to the articles below, read the abstract and, if you wish to know more, contact John Lees on fjohnlees@aol.com:

RECENT ARTICLES AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM ANTHROMEDICS WEB SITE

Dekkers, H. in cooperation with the doctors of the anthroposophical “Therapeuticum Haarlem” in the Netherlands (2022). An approach to anthroposophical multidisciplinary treatment of dissociation in the context of intergenerational transmission of post-traumatic stress disorder. Differential assessment and diagnosis. Systemic therapy, https://www.anthromedics.org/PRA-1011-EN

Lees, J. (2022). Anthroposophic psychotherapy treatment as an essential support for anthroposophic medical treatment in a case of serious childhood trauma, https://www.anthromedics.org/PRA-1010-EN

PRINCIPAL TEXT

Dekkers, A. (2015). A Psychology of Human Dignity. Great Barrngton, Mass: Steiner Books. https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Human-Dignity-Ad-Dekkers/dp/1621481123 This book includes some basic exercises which are used in the training of anthroposophic psychotherapists and introduces its psycho-social, as well as its spiritual, aspects. 

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES ON ANTHROPOSOPHIC PSYCHOTHERAPY

Lees, J. (2018). The client as healer and clinical activist in anthroposophic psychotherapy.  Self and Society an International Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 46(1)

Barnes, C. and Lees, J. (2017). The man who did not wish to come to Earth: a case study, Self and Society an International Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 45(1): 19-28. This article is based on a case study of a graduate of the first UK course which demonstrates the community methodology which forms the core of the weekend interactive seminars.

Dekkers, H. and Lees, J. (2017). Addressing materialism and illusionism in anthroposophic psychotherapy, Self and Society an International Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 45(1): 9-18. This article examines the psycho-social aspects of anthroposophic psychotherapy.

Lees, J. (2017). The emerging therapeutic landscape of psychotherapy in the twenty-first century and the contribution of anthroposophic psychotherapy, European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling, accepted for publication This article places anthroposophic psychotherapy within the context of some innovatory developments in the psychotherapy and counselling profession over the last forty years.

Lees, J. (2016). Microphenomena research, intersubjectivity and client as self-healer, Psychodynamic Practice, 22(1): 22-37 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14753634.2015.1124801 This case study integrates anthroposophic psychotherapy with psychoanalytic intersubjective theory.

Lees, J. (2013). Psychotherapy, complementary and alternative medicine and social dysfunction.  European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling, 15(3): 201-213. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13642537.2013.810658 This case study looks at the way in which anthroposophic psychotherapy addresses psycho-social and psychosomatic problems in a holistic manner. 

Lees, J. (2013). Facilitating self-healing in anthroposophic psychotherapy. Forschende Komplementärmedizin/Research in Complementary Medicine, 20: 286-289. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/354192 This case study illustrates the interdisciplinary nature of anthroposophic psychotherapy and the way in which it ideally works in conjunction with anthroposophic medicine.

Lees, J. and Tovey, P. (2012). Counselling and psychotherapy, complementary and alternative medicine and the future of healthcare, British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 40(1): 67-81. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03069885.2011.621520?src=recsys This article is predominantly theoretical in orientation and discusses some basic principles of anthroposophic psychotherapy.

Lees, J. (2011). Counselling and psychotherapy in dialogue with complementary and alternative medicine.  British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 39(2); 117-130. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03069885.2010.547051?src=recsys This article is predominantly theoretical in orientation and discuss some basic principles of anthroposophic psychotherapy.

NON PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE ON ANTHROPOSOPHIC PSYCHOTHERAPY

Dekkers, A., Dekkers, H. and Lees, J. (2018). Anthroposophy as an enrichment of psychotherapy.  Self and Societyan International Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 46(1)

Lees, J. (2016). The future of psychotherapy. Therapy Today. October 2016. http://www.bacp.co.uk/docs/pdf/15726_oct%20tt.pdf This article looks at recent developments in the counselling and psychotherapy profession and the relationship between anthroposophic psychotherapy and these developments.

OTHER RELEVANT BOOKS

Lees, J. (2016). The future of psychological therapy: from managed care to transformational practice.  London: Routledge https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Psychological-Therapy-Transformational-Practice/dp/1138886386 This book is not specifically about the anthroposophic approach to psychological therapy but nevertheless inspired by it, connects with key authors who share the psycho-social and, in some cases, the spiritual and ‘bio’ principles of anthroposophic psychotherapy.  It includes contributions from some leading practitioners in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.  It gives an outline of the challenges facing the counselling and psychotherapy profession today and plants the seeds for counterbalancing these developments.  The book shows an awareness of the social and political context in which we are working.

Lees, J. and Freshwater, D. [eds] (2008). Practitioner-based Research: Power, Discourse and Transformation.  London: Karnac Books. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practitioner-Based-Research-Power-Discourse-Transformation-ebook/dp/B07BQDQVF9/ This book is not about anthroposophic psychotherapy but the methodologies it discusses are inspired by it.  It will be of interest to creative qualitative researchers.  It introduces innovatory approaches to research and includes contributions from some leading practitioners in the field and graduates of a Masters course based on their dissertations.