June
6-8, CSOMA 2008 EXPO ABSTRACT
Frontiers in TCM Psychology
by Michael Guen, Ph.D., L.Ac.
Wasah Integrative Medicine
Santa Rosa, California USA
Abstract
In
contrast to western medicine and psychology
that utilize separate criteria
to diagnose
and treat physical and mental illness, TCM's
mind-body-spirit philosophy allows medical
and psychological treatment strategies to be
derived from the same diagnostic base. Ideally,
this should permit resolution of a patient’s
psychological imbalance while treating their
medical condition. Such a difference between
western and TCM approaches is significant when
we consider the many patients in the west who
seek TCM at least in part for personal growth,
to better handle relationships, or get help
for (non-psychiatric) functional neurotic ailments.
Currently in TCM, there exists a WIDE gap between
treatment physical illness and treatment of
psychiatric disease. TCM psychology protocols
need to be developed that educate patients
in viewing illness-health-actualization along
a single spectrum.
I will introduce an ancient
Chinese science of human physiology based
on five elements
(wu xing) and eight trigrams (ba gua). Noteworthy
is this system’s claim that the internal
organs “speak to us.” In as much
as “organ intelligence” represents
unification of physiology, mind, emotions and
behavior, it establishes traditional Chinese
science as one of the world’s earliest
holistic psychologies. It’s usefulness
to modern TCM psychology lays in its whole
life-stage framework, and the tools it provides
TCM practitioners to help patients integrate
feelings, emotions, somatic-affect, to directly
transform cognition, behavior, and relationships.
The Presenter:
Michael Guen (Ph.D. Psychology, Boston University,
M.S.C.M. ACTCM, San Francisco) is a practitioner
of TCM, TCM psychology, and other holistic
therapies. Since 1972 he has studied orthodox
Chinese science, medicine, and martial arts
from renowned masters. He is founder of the
non-profit International Association of TCM
Psychology and is director of Wasah Institute,
offering leadership programs for healing
and life transformation. An author and musician,
he lives in Santa Rosa, California.
Telephone: 707-815-4014
Email: Michael@wasahinstitute.com
Website: www.wasahinstitute.com
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