Care of Mind/Care of Spirit: A Psychiatrist Explores Spiritual Direction

May is gifted in articulating distinctions and discernments in a clear and understandable way. As a reader of much and varied spiritual literature, I find May to be extraordinary in his capacity to elucidate the mysterious with practical language and examples. May has keen insight into the human technical systems that have evolved over time to help us heal and grow. His artful descriptions clarify issues and questions that I have always recognized at a deep level, but could never articulate. You can't go wrong with this book.

This work offers a new look at the question of how one can integrate one's spiritual life with their psychological life. What makes this book distinctive is that May starts from the perspective of a psychiatrist and reaches into the domain of the spiritual life of therapy clients. He has done that task of integration well and thoroughly. There are many other writers and clinicians who have attempted this task, yet have failed because they've minimized one discipline or the other. May manages to treat both the field of secular mental health and spiritual direction with respect and furthermore is knowledgeable enough to speak about both fields. As a Christian counseling professor at an evangelical seminary, I am always on the lookout to see how others think about, and work with the realms of psychology and spirituality. May's work is another addition to this integrative field. His work is particualrly interesting for me because he comes from a different theological tradition than mine. I found it wonderfully stimulating to see areas of agreement and disagreement in the manner in which the author and I would care for the soul of our clients. I recommend "Care of Mind Care of Spirit" to students of psychology, students of Pastoral care and even to interested individuals who want to reflect on the wonder of the human being.