Dia-logo Therapy: Psychonarration and PaRDeS

(Hardback)

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This book is a study of psychotherapy as a dual or dia-logic discourse between the rational-cognitive and the mystic-schizophrenic worlds. Mordechai Rotenberg introduces the Jewish pluralistic interpretation system (PaRDeS) as a therapeutic bridge between these two worlds--between the rational-cognitive and the irrational-mystic. According to Rotenberg, a psychotherapeutic theory should engulf all aspects of human behavior. A comprehensive theory of psychotherapy must encompass treatment possibilities for rational and irrational behavior manifestations as they are apprehended in their specific cultural contexts. Rotenberg's study incorporates ideas from theories of literary criticism, deconstruction, and reception. This scholarly introduction to the concept of the Jewish PaRDeS is directed to clinical psychologists, Judaica scholars, humanistic psychologists, and philosophers interested in mysticism and phenomenology. Dia-logo Therapy advocates the idea that therapeutic truth may be established if discourse between reader-therapist and writer-patient is based on the co-existence between two or more alternating (dia) systems of logos. The first part of the book attempts to draw on hermeneutic theories that focus on the relationship between the literary critic and the author of the text. The second part assesses possibilities of establishing an intrapersonal balance between mystic and rational readings of one's biographing. The third part concentrates on scrutinizing the interpersonal applications of dia-logism. Dia-logo Therapy includes many clinical illustrations. Dr. Rotenberg's hope is to enrich his readers' understanding of the hermeneutic mystery of life.

Reviews

This book is one of the very few that brings together the insights of postmodern theory, psychotherapy, and Judaism. It belongs in all graduate religious studies and Jewish studies libraries.-Religious Studies Review
"This book is one of the very few that brings together the insights of postmodern theory, psychotherapy, and Judaism. It belongs in all graduate religious studies and Jewish studies libraries."-Religious Studies Review

Author Bio

MORDECHAI ROTENBERG is a Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, teaching Psychology, Social Work, and Criminology. He is the author of numerous books, including Rebiographing and Deviance (Praeger, 1987). Dia-logo Therapy incorporates Dr. Rotenberg's previous works on the impact on psychology of rational Protestantism, Hasidic-Cabalism, and the hermeneutic system of the Midrash.