Hilary Garraway

This ground-breaking handbook explores the nature of spirituality and its relevance to the mental health and well-being of people coming into contact with health, social care, education and allied support services. Incorporating the perspectives and experience of over 35 leading academics and practitioners in the field, the book offers a practical guide that includes the contemporary context, details of relevant demonstration projects and therapeutic interventions, and issues for services, staff, managers, leaders and trainers. Opportunities for reflection and practice pointers and offered throughout. The book pays due attention to the current climate of the covid-19 pandemic and the trauma and mental health needs linked to it (both for patients and staff), black and minority ethnic and trans-gender issues, and the voice of mental health experts by experience. Organized into thematic sections, it offers an update to previous publications in the field, including a consideration of spirituality and the new landscape going forwards.

The book describes how the Holistic Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (HCBT) model grew from patients bringing their spiritual beliefs and their socio-economic and cultural context into CBT sessions, factors sometimes missed in standard CBT. Holistic CBT is explained as a new strengths-based, solution-focused and creative model, exploring people's identity and potential within their individual context, and recognising a body-mind-spirit link. The book sets out the process of this transpersonal, third wave CBT approach, recognising the importance of relating to different racial and cultural worldviews, and in particular, raising the profile of spirituality as an important aspect of people's lives. An excellent reader for those looking to extend their therapeutic practice in mental health, community and faith settings. A companion course manual 'Free to be Me' by the same author provides guidance and resources for running HCBT sessions with individuals and groups.