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FRANKEL, ESTELLE. (2004). Sacred therapy: Jewish spiritual teachings on emotional healing and inner wholeness. Boston: Shambhala. 304 pp. ISBN: 1570629978. Hardbound. $24.95. Paperback ISBN: 1590302044 $15.95 Reviewed by Hedy Ganz.
The field of transpersonal psychology has been blessed, in recent years, with a plethora of new books on the interface of religion and psychotherapy. Among them is Estelle Frankel's groundbreaking book, Sacred Therapy, which applies the spiritual insights of the Kabbalah to the practice of psychotherapy. Written by a seasoned psychotherapist who is also a respected scholar and teacher of Jewish mysticism, Sacred Therapy brings together a wealth of Jewish source materials with evocative case studies, personal anecdotes, and experiential exercises to create an inspirational guide to emotional healing and spiritual growth.
In the introduction, Frankel chronicles her own journey as a spiritual seeker and healer, and describes how she came to integrate her spiritual and psychotherapeutic practices. Frankel shares that for many years she ''would often hear the words of ancient sacred texts echoing between the lines'' (p. 1) of her clients' narratives.
Initially she was reluctant to share these personal musings with her clients, but over time, ''as she gained confidence and a bit of chutzpah as a clinician'' (p. 1) she began to selectively introduce...