Clinical Dharma

Clinical Dharma is the result of Dr. Steve's over 25 years experience with Buddhist mindfulness practice and as many years as an educator and a therapist. In that time he has seen how so many of his colleagues in the helping professions (and fellow avocational helpers) suffer above and beyond what is tolerable, consequently burning out in one way or another. Clinical Dharma provides an answer to this dilemma: Develop your own practice, and then continue your work as a helper from the foundation of the 4 Noble Truths and the 8 Fold Path of the Buddha. This book is written in a meditative and inspirational style and can also serve as a guidebook toward and into a rooted meditation practice. That practice then translates into a day to day practice within the scope of the healing and helping journey. Dr. Steve references his own experiences with suffering, his entrance into and growth in the helping professions, and the insight culled from years of Zen (and now Insight) practice. It is of interest to a wide variety of helpers -- therapists, doctors, nurses, yoga teachers, social justice workers, non-profit administrators, sponsors in 12 step programs, massage therapists, educators, podcast hosts -- anyone engaged in the framework of helping and/or healing. The book begins with an foreword by Noah Levine, the author of DharmaPunx and the founder of Against the Stream Meditation Society. Noah and Dr. Steve helped set up Refuge Recovery Centers together. This foreword helps provide a context for the message of Clinical Dharma, the message of clinical care depending on clinical self care, all delivered through the prism of the 4 Noble Truths and the 8 Fold Path. In the end, Buddha as compassionate psychologist comes through most clearly in this book.