How to Be an Adult: A Handbook for Psychological and Spiritual Integration - Softcover

Richo, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809132230 ISBN 13: 9780809132232

Publisher: Paulist Press, 1991

Synopsis

Psychological and spiritual adulthood does not come automatically with age. It requires ongoing and ardent work on ourselves. It involves articulating our own truth and acting in accord with its challenges.

In this best-selling work, David Richo provides a hand-book for achieving psychological and spiritual health. Based on his many years' experience as a psychotherapist and workshop leader, the author uses the metaphor of the heroic journey, whose three phases―departure, struggle, and return―explain what happens in us as we evolve from neurotic ego through healthy ego to the spiritual self. First, he discusses the three challenges to adulthood: fear, anger, and guilt, as well as the self-esteem that comes from meeting those challenges. Then he discusses the dual problem of maintaining personal boundaries and establishing appropriate intimacy. Finally, he discusses the techniques of integration and the return to wholeness and love.

How to Be an Adult is a thoughtful, accessible guide filled with useful quotations and reflections for meditation, as well as other techniques and concrete advice on the process of growth. The new appendix provides readers with practical ways to show integrity and loving-kindness.

David Richo, PhD, is a psychotherapist, teacher, and retreat leader in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, California. He is the author of many books and emphasizes spiritual perspectives in all his work. His website is www.davericho.com.
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About this title

About the Author

David Richo is a psychotherapist in private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Sierra University in Santa Monica. Dr. Richo has been a teacher at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. He has also written When Love Meets Fear (Paulist Press).

Reviews

Richo uses the metaphor of the heroic journey to describe the process toward psychological and spiritual maturity. First he discusses "personal work" and the three challenges to adulthood: fear, anger, and guilt, as well as the self-esteem that comes from meeting those challenges. Then he discusses relationships and the dual problem of maintaining personal boundaries and establishing appropriate intimacy. Finally, he discusses the techniques of integration: flexibility, befriending the shadow, using dreams, and developing spirituality through openness to the self and unconditional love. This guide contains useful quotations, summary reflections, and affirmations, as well as other techniques that give concrete advice on the process of growth. Recommended for seminary and public libraries.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809132230
• ISBN 13: 9780809132232
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 122