The Zen of Helping

Andrew Bein, PhD, LCSW, has twenty-three years of experience as a clinician, consultant trainer, and researcher. His professional experience includes work in child welfare, public schools/special education, youth programs, multiservice centers, substance abuse, and private practice. Dr. Bein has been a Zen student for ten years and is a Full Professor with the Division of Social Work at California State University, Sacramento.

Foreword Edward R.Canada, PhD ix

Foreword Joan Halifax Roshi, PhD xiii

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xxi

1 A Spiritual Helping Framework for Our Clients and Ourselves Beyond Spiritual Neutrality 1

2 Sitting with Clients on Uncertain Ground: Strong Back, Soft Front Beyond Evidence-Based Practice 9

3 Radical Acceptance of Clients, Context, and Self Beyond Carl Rogers’ Positive Regard 27

4 Mindfulness: Steadying the Mind and Being Present Beyond Empathy Skills and Counter-Transference 47

5 Curiosity, Compassionate Caring, and Inspiration Beyond Professional Warmth 71

6 Bearing Witness to Trauma and Pain Beyond Clinical Distance 97

7 The Middle Way: Embracing Contradiction and Paradox Beyond Dualistic Thinking 135

8 Having the Conversation: Making Space for Client Spirituality Beyond the Great Taboo 153

9 Dealing with Failure Beyond Cognitive Solutions and the Paradigm of Blame 163

10 Swimming Upstream with a Warrior’s Heart Beyond Working a Human Services Job 175

Appendix Brief Introduction to Buddhism and Zen 185

References 191

Index 195