Oops, sent this to Jim Clark instead of the list. > Several list members have suggested that it would be helpful > (if not essential) for Kitty's student to define the terms > "mind/body/spirit." I completely agree and find it fascinating > that there is a notable lack of agreement on the meaning of > these terms within the current discussion. > > Jim Clark's response suggests that he sees this area as > "non-natural" and completely lacking in scientific evidence. > My first reaction to the original post was that this student > was interested in health psychology, or counseling patients > with stress, critical illnesses, or chronic pain. After > reading some of the responses, I doubted my own assumption > and searched for the Harvard Mind/Body Institute on the web, > hoping to find their definition. > > The url is: http://www.mindbody.harvard.edu/about_mbmi.htm#4 > > The following is quoted from that site > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > "Mission of the Mind/Body Medical Clinic > > Behavioral Medicine is an interdisciplinary field that > bridges medicine, nursing, psychology, psychiatry and > religion. It highlights the importance of mind/body/spirit > therapeutic interactions and utilizes other > non-pharmacologic treatments. Working together with other > medical disciplines, behavioral medicine emphasizes the > importance of individuals taking an active role in their > own health care. > > The specific goals of the clinic include: > -enabling patients to better manage chronic illness > -reducing symptoms > -increasing coping skills > -modifying adverse lifestyle behaviors > > These goals are accomplished through the application of: > relaxation response techniques, nutritional management, > exercise and cognitive/behavioral therapies empowering > patients to take an active role in their health care, > thereby improving the quality of their lives." > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > This description certainly sounds compatible with clinical > psychology, and includes a number of non-psych options for > students to become involved in the field without obtaining a > graduate degree. I'm not well versed in the literature, but > there is a scientific research tradition in this area that has > nothing to do with non-natural, paranormal, or new age beliefs. > > I personally hate the idea of a mind/body distinction--my body > thinks and my mind acts (and vice versa) as a coherent unity > (well, on a good day anyway...). But really folks, if > psychology does not recognize that thought influences behavior, > that belief systems are powerful determinants of attitudes and > behavior, and that stress (interacting with thought and belief > systems) affects physiological health, we need to seriously > reconsider the intro texts we use. > > All my best, > > Pam > > jim clark wrote: > > > There are several problems with Mike and Kitty's positions. > > > > 1. The areas in which they and Kitty's student are interested > > have not been ignored. Psychologists and many others have > > considered the non-natural speculations about human behaviour and > > the world, and, although some disagree, have find little if any > > evidence to support those speculations. Mike's mention of > > parapsychology is a good example. To continue a strong belief in > > this premise is simply ignoring a wealth of negative evidence. > > Nor is it the case that people who now speak against these ideas > > have not considered them and perhaps even read quite widely in > > the areas. Exposure to shoddy ideas usually, I would hope, leads > > to rejection of those ideas. > > > > Best wishes > > Jim > >
