The Hakomi "school of psychology" provides a holistic approach to psychology that integrates both mind and body while championing a non-invasive and non-violent approach to exploring the symptoms of our soul-malaise. My nod to this cutting-edge psychology which combines the best of old and new to articulate what is most healing and necessary to transform our inner wounds.

This book develops "Focusing" in a vibrantly spiritual direction and shows the importance of how the theory can develop a sense of compassionate, caring connection with oneself and from this, a compassionate connection with the larger world. An essential message here, the therapy process is very much about developing a vibrant personalized sense of spirituality.

TNH is a widely revered and respected Buddhist monk. He presents mindfulness in this book as a receptive, nonjudgmental, present-moment awareness that can "step back" from internal emotional pain and transform it with compassionate, nurturing acceptance. Buddhists have been doing "psychology" for millennia.

There is no doubt that the fruit of Buddhist spirituality, chiefly mindfulness meditation has been the spiritual practice most accessibly assimilated into the western psychological healing arsenal. Wuellner adds an inclusive counterpoint, articulating the Christian vision of a healing, life-affirming God who suffers with us in our pain to be the heart center for personal and communal healing.

I have found the "inner-child" focus about healing child abuse often a bit too simplistic. Never-the-less, it is a important dimension of the healing process. After all, much of our personal malaise develops from painful childhood experiences. Napier tends to be more balanced than most but I have yet to find a superior treatment. Alice Miller is also very helpful in this area.

For those dealing with trauma issues, this sourcebook offers a cornucopia of different techniques to help work through the debilitating and ravaging effects that it can cause. Educational while also highly pragmatic.

Another pioneer in guided imagery, Rossman provides an important resource to gain insight in how to utilize this important dimension for both emotional and physical healing.

I like books that actually teach me skills to work with emotional distress. After all, even in therapy, one is largely on one's own through most of the week. A good intro to helpful techniques like light treatment, acupunture, the HeartMath breathing technique, EMDR, etc. Some of these like EMDR and, of course, acupuncture should be done by a professional but these are all things to try.

Eden has had a great impact on the field of energy healing and is considered an essential pioneer and practitioner by many. This book is filled with exercises for improving energy flow and addressing certain health or emotional problems. More general in nature, this should improve both physical AND emotional vitality.

This is a good book for learning the technique of Thought Field Therapy. TFT is very similar to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and involves tapping on specific meridian points for resolution of many kinds of emotional distresses. Personally I have found it helpful but not quite the immediate cure it often claims. Non-invasive and able to be practiced on one's own it may be worth a try.

EMDR, which is essentially rapid eye movement (think of REM sleep), has been discovered as a powerful means of integrating painful and traumatic memories. This book serves as a great testimonial to it's efficacy and gives some rationale of how it works within the brain. Probably more accepted in mainstream psychotherapy than TFT or EFT.

For those skeptical of energy healing, this may be helpful. Much of it is Pert's own story of dealing with research politics but her discoveries are fascinating and give great credibility to why "energy medicines" may be the way of the future. You can also try "Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis" but it's expensive.