Shintai Psychological Therapy in Practice: A Life Philosophy that Follows Nature

Author: (Japanese) Takashi Takayoshi, translated by Kang Chengjun and Shang Bin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: The neurotic symptoms described at the beginning of this book are experienced by almost everyone to varying degrees. For most people, these experiences are only mild or temporary, and naturally do not require treatment. However, if these symptoms persist and develop into a chronic state, causing suffering and hindering the normal functioning of daily work, study, and interpersonal relationships, timely treatment is necessary. These symptoms that bring a certain degree of impairment to social life, as described below, are referred to as neurosis, which is precisely the target of Morita therapy. Those who suffer from neurosis are completely different from what is commonly referred to as mental illness. Generally, these individuals appear no different from normal people. If the person with the symptoms conceals them, not only will friends but even relatives almost fail to understand their suffering. Even if the person expresses their distress, it is difficult for ordinary people to comprehend it, which only makes them more painful and trapped in their condition. Neurotic patients are originally steady in character and possess good intelligence, with highly capable qualities. This is fully demonstrated by the lives of those who have been cured. However, those who have not received effective treatment are merely lost confidence due to neurotic symptoms, overwhelmed with pain, fall into a negative state, and cannot fully realize their potential. This is truly a pity. In recent years, new psychiatric drugs have continuously emerged, and doctors simply prescribe them when they encounter patients with neurotic symptoms. It should be noted that for neurosis, medication does not serve as a cure but only as an auxiliary treatment, providing a certain degree of tranquility for those who are overly anxious (though medication is essential for depression). Neurosis accounts for the majority of neurotic disorders. It has achieved significant therapeutic effects in practice and has been recognized by most psychiatrists. It is also gaining increasing attention from the medical communities in Europe and America. A book titled "Morita Psychotherapy" written by an American scholar who trained at Takayoshi Clinic has already been published. I have also published multiple articles on Morita therapy in foreign magazines in foreign languages and have been pleased with the positive response. However, Morita Sensei himself once expressed deep regret that his therapy had not yet been recognized abroad. Looking back, I was taught by Morita Sensei in 1929, succeeded him as a professor of psychiatry and neurology at Jikei Medical University in 1937, and founded Takayoshi Clinic in 1940. I have been engaged in the treatment of neurosis ever since. The number of hospitalized patients alone has already exceeded 5,000. The reason I have devoted myself to this work with passion for half a century is: first, to heal neurotic patients using Morita therapy and help them regain a joyful new life; second, to make more people understand the true value of Morita therapy through clinical practice, thereby further promoting its development. In 1974, on the occasion of Morita Sensei's centenary, I, as an initiator, organized the Centennial Celebration of Morita Sh?ma with fellow colleagues. At the event, the "Collected Works of Morita Sh?ma" in seven volumes, "The Sayings and Deeds of Mr. Yokoi" (a pseudonym for Morita Sensei), and other publications were released. Lectures were also held in various places. As time passes, fewer and fewer people who directly studied under Morita Sensei or received treatment from him are left. Including these people, the Morita school